Why Reframe? By considering the same information in a different context, you can get a completely new perspective on it, enhancing your understanding.
We’re all familiar with the “spin,” that is achieved through providing a biased interpretation of an event to persuade public opinion. Similarly, your “frame of reference” will color your world. It is based on your beliefs, opinions, experiences, proximity, interpretation, and more. The frame we put around a person, place, thought, or idea, defines the meaning which we give it. As soon as we change the “frame,” the meaning for us can also change.
Reframing encourages independent thinking, as you say, “I want to look at this another way.” By changing the frame around a situation, you not only change your perception of it, but its meaning to you. If you were to take one painting and try it in three different frames, each combination would offer a completely different impression and presentation. Your frame of perception works the same way.
Simple Words
“Would you please reframe that and change your wording into something I can better understand?” How many times have you needed to ask this of people who were talking “over your head?” We’ve all had this happen with folks who are so highly educated in their area of expertise that they don’t realize that we mere mortals do not understand their medical/technical/scientific terms and jargon. When this happens, we need to ask them to reframe their information and put it in layman’s terms. This helps to make even the most complex concepts simple and understandable.
How Can You Reframe Things?
- Ask another person’s opinion. Maybe two people’s.
- Change your space, place, or location to see the situation from a different angle. Evaluate as if you were responding from an entirely different demographic.
- Reformulate or reinterpret what other people are saying. This might require stating back to them what they said.
- Rephrase the words you use in your sentences to enhance their meaning. Always consider your “audience.”
Try to remove emotion from the situation and then reframe it with facts and logic. Take a more objective approach.
This blog is an excerpt from Susan’s new book, Release the Power of Re3 . . . Review, Redo & Renew for Positive Change & Transformation. To learn more, please visit www.SusanCYoung.com or www.amazon.com/author/susancyoung.
