Reframing (Literally)

Over the time I spent with my therapist last year (no shame, therapy is a wonderful addition to anyone’s life) we spent a lot of time teaching me how to “reframe” stressful events so that I could cope better with anxiety and improve my outlook on life. I’ve found this strategy to be incredibly rewarding in so many aspects of my life that I’d like all of you to try a very literal interpretation that may help you to begin your own “reframing” process…

1) Go on facebook, look through your photo albums, whatever… find a picture of yourslef that you do not like.

2) Pin that picture up somewhere, frame it, put it on your wall… just place it somewhere that you’re going to see it a lot for the next week or so.

3) Every time you pass that picture find one thing about it that you like. (Maybe your hair looks great, or you have a fantastic grin?)

4) If you feel up to it, show off that picture in the comments and tell us what you love!

I bet by the end of the week you’ll be feeling much, much better about that picture… and maybe even about your body image as a whole.

Now imagine trying this exercise metaphorically…. with job challenges, relationship issues, people you dislike… wouldn’t life be much better if we all just focused on pulling out the good in things?