Perspective is Everything

Are you going through a rough time? Is life hectic? Do you have a long list of to-do’s for the day? Yeah, me too.

I know that it can be overwhelming—a non-stop, busy lifestyle. Sometimes, even taking 5 minutes for yourself seems too much of a chore. I get it. It is hard. This is why I would like to introduce you to reframing. 

In my psychology class, this reframing technique was described to be one of the most healthy coping mechanisms in research. The technique boils down to 3 words: change your perspective.

Ok, so how do we do that? Here’s an example:

Before reframing

Life is so busy! Balancing a full-time job with family is draining.

After reframing

Life is busy, but I am grateful for the opportunity to have a full-time job and a family that cares for me.

As you can see, the content of both examples is similar: busy lifestyle, job, and family. However, the difference lies in the way the content is perceived. Before reframing, the content is perceived negatively, but once reframed, it is considered more positively. It is no longer a burden, it is an opportunity.

I find this technique to be extremely helpful in grounding myself. Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. But if you can take a deep breath, and realize how fortunate you are to even have the hustle and bustle, the sky is the limit!

But of course, don’t work yourself too hard either! Life = balance.