If you’re feeling stuck or find yourself putting things off or resenting what others say, we have what might be a simple solution: Reframing! This week, Janine and Shannon discuss the power of changing the words you use to describe something.
Discussion topics include:
- Janine’s excitement over the American Ninja Warrior season finale
- Changing what words mean to change your experience with them
- “Have to” versus “Get to” or “Choose to”
- Reframing annoying or hurtful things people say to you by recognizing the positive intention behind the comments
- Renaming things that make us anxious or perfectionistic
- Using positive words to feel better about the items on your task list
- “Move your body” vs “exercise”
- The steps for reframing: Look at the situation, understand what your deeper intention is and find the language that reflects that
- Using reframing as an anti-procrastination tool
- “Procrastinator” versus “just-in-time producer” and how that reframing might have improved our lives when we were freelance writers
- Trusting yourself and your capabilities
- When to use reframing
Links:
- Shannon’s blog post, “Getting to Joy”
- Shannon’s blog post, about changing how she talks about exercise
- Shannon’s blog post on procrastination and “just in time production”
- Interview with the million-dollar winner of 2019 American Ninja Warrior
I think reframing is a very important skill for me. I found that using AA’s Serenity Prayer helps to deal with unpleasant things. When my boyfriend of four years broke up with me in June, I used that prayer to cope because I clearly needed “serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” We have remained friends and now I look upon our time together as “four wonderful years with one bad day” rather than feeling like our entire relationship was ruined.
I use reframing a lot. Some people may think it is Pollyanna-ish to change the way you think about things. I think of it as an important life skill.
What a wonderful way to reframe the end of your relationship. We’re definitely in the “important life skill” camp with you, Christy!