In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no wonder that many of us find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands on our time and energy. Whether it’s the pressure of tight deadlines at work, the weight of financial responsibilities, or the never-ending list of family obligations, stress seems to be an unavoidable part of daily life.
It’s easy to feel like you’re running on empty, struggling to stay positive as the challenges keep piling up.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck in that place of frustration and defeat. You have more control over your reactions to these daily stressors than you might think.
The key to transforming how you handle stress lies in building resilience—a skill that can empower you to not only cope with life’s pressures but to thrive despite them.
“It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
Let’s talk about how you can use the power of Mindful Reframing to shift your perspective and regain control over your emotional responses. By acknowledging the common stressors that weigh on us and recognizing that you have the ability to influence your experience, you’ll learn practical tools to help you navigate even the toughest days with greater ease and positivity.
According to the National Library of Medicine, resilient people have more flexibility, confidence, a longer life expectancy, the ability to forgive others, a strong sense of purpose and a positive view of life and the future that prevents anxiety and depression.
I don’t know about you, but these all seem like good reasons to devote some time and mental energy to improving this aspect of my thought process. 🙂
Now I get it. Life can feel hard. It can feel overwhelming at times. And there are even times when you may not know how you’re going to come out the other side.
I know I have felt that way any number of times. Whether it’s when I was the primary caregiver for my aging parents, or raising my daughters while working a full time mom and being soccer mom to one and dance mom to another, or making the adjustments to having adult children and redefining my place in the world.
It can be a lot.
But it doesn’t have to be like that. It can be something that you notice, are confident you will work through, and get through it.
The first step is to know that you are not alone. Because once you know that, you know it is possible to get through things.
According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month. Living in stressful times seems to have become a way of life for many.
It doesn’t have to be this way. You can go through stressful times with full confidence in your ability to bounce back.
And I want to show you how.
The first thing I want you to do is think back to some times when you may not have known how you’d get to the other side. See if you can recall a couple of those memories.
Now, look back at how those ended up. You may not have ended up in the place you would have chosen, but you did get to the other side. And you are still here.
So, as they say, you have a 100% track record of surviving your worst days.
And while this has become a pretty common mantra in social media, there is a lot of power in reminding ourselves of that in tough times.
Part of the reason for the power of this reminder is that it keeps us focused on successes and the future. It puts the conversation back in your control. It allows you to set the tone in your head about the expectations from this situation.
One of the most powerful tools I have found to build resilience is Mindful Reframing.
Now, you may have heard about reframing, and may have even used it before.
Something I’ve found is that reframing often gets diluted down into positive thinking. However, done correctly it is so much more powerful than that.
Let me walk you through the steps to a powerful and effective reframe.
The first thing you want to do is think about a stressful situation you’ve been in. Notice your thoughts, feelings and how you are feeling in your body.
IMPORTANT: Do not judge what you notice. This is not the time for judgment. It is only time for observation and awareness.
Next write down the thoughts you have/had during that time. You don’t need to be too detailed. Just make sure to capture the essence of your thoughts.
Now, reframe this into a more balanced perspective. This is often the most challenging part of the process. It is also the most important and the most rewarding.
If you are struggling with this, consider how you might learn from this in the future, how this experience will serve you and others if they encounter it again, how you might benefit from this.
If you are still stuck, here are 9 perspectives you can look at things from to reframe things to offer a more resilient experience:
- Growth Perspective: How can this situation contribute to your personal growth and learning?
- Control Perspective: What aspects of this situation are within your control, and how can you focus on those?
- Opportunity Perspective: Are there hidden opportunities that could arise from this situation?
- Context Perspective: How does this situation fit into the bigger picture of your life or career?
- Learning Perspective: What can you learn from this experience that might help you in the future?
- Empathy Perspective: How might others involved in the situation be feeling, and how can understanding their perspective help you reframe yours?
- Resource Perspective: What resources or support systems can you leverate to manage or resolve this situation?
- Past Experience Perspective: How have you successfully navigated similar situations in the past?
- Positive Impact Perspective: What positive impact can this situation have, even if it’s not immediately apparent?
And finally, practice is what strengthens this muscle. Practice reframing your stressful situations, past or present, into a more resilient experience. Spend some time daily or weekly reframing your past and present experiences.
The more you practice, the more easily you will be able to do this in the future. The more resilient you will become. The more second nature this exercise will be.
When you are in a stressful situation, mindful reframing is one of the most immediate and most effective tools you can use to build the resilience you want and need. It is one that I teach all my clients and continues to be one of the most powerful tools they turn to over and over again.
Are you ready to transform stress into strength and become a more effective leader both at work and at home? Join me for the Core Impact Leadership Program, a 12-week live course designed to enhance your leadership skills and build lasting resilience.
Throughout our journey together, you’ll gain practical tools and insights to handle daily challenges with confidence and grace. Discover how to lead with impact, foster stronger relationships, and achieve your personal and professional goals.
Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your full potential and lead with strength. Use the coupon code NLPCO at checkout to save $150! (Hint: Early bird offers are currently available and the next session starts Sept 9, 2024)