R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi’s Tanya said that if we change the way we think, we will change the way we feel.

Cognitive behavioral therapy calls this reframing.

Viktor Frankl, Auschwitz survivor and the founder of Logotherapy describes our ability to reframe as the only true human choice. He states that “they” can take away everything from us, yet they can’t take away how we approach things, and they can’t take away our attitude.

I have read that Frankl’s reframing was that he looked at every day in Auschwitz as another day in University, where he was able to teach meanings.

Life is not about what happens, it’s how we see it. Our perception is our reality; shift perception, and negative can immediately become positive and vice versa.

My question is, how? How can we turn anguish, pain, shame, fear, sadness, and doubt into a reframing of sorts, where the pain is tolerable, and doubt becomes faith?

My belief and experience is that for me to reframe, I just repeat and repeat and repeat, sometimes for days, weeks, and even years in order to shift my perspective. It takes practice and it takes a gentle reminder that all I have is not what happens to me, yet rather how I deal with it. My true freedom of choice boils down to one word: attitude.

How do you shift your negative thinking into positive? How do you reframe?

This week, let’s start with reframing something simple. If you work, instead of saying, “I have to go to work”, start with, “I choose to go to work”. Find what you feel obligated to do, and change the language to, “I’m choosing to”.

Accountability, Community, Unconditional Love

Asher

I want to remind all of you that you can hear more on my podcast, Showing Up. We have lots of amazing shows with interesting guests on a variety of personal development topics. It would be great if you could also rate 5 stars, review and subscribe to the show. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/showing-up-with-asher-gottesman/id1489856285y

Posted in Thought of the Week