Reframing Your Perspective

Yes, we've all heard the saying, “It all depends on how you look at it...” and science is now telling us that this is the case. 

Let's take stress, for example. The deadlines, the to-do lists, the unexpected illness, and the countless little issues that pop up throughout the day; yes, with world and global events added on top of personal and professional issues, that's a heck of a lot of stress.

But then again, perhaps not all is as it appears in personal reality.   Stress and the subsequent effects may depend more on our perception of events and less on the events themselves.

For example, two people can face the exact same situation and experience very different levels of stress. One person walks into an important presentation, cool, calm and excited to share their ideas, while others walk in with their heart pounding, palms sweating, and the conviction that all is about to go very wrong.

What explains this difference? Science is telling us, that in many instances, it's our amygdala, that small almond-shaped structure buried deep in our brains that tells us to flee a Saber tooth tiger, fight a bug infestation, or stand our ground, in a heightened state, If we feel justified in doing so.

However, in these modern days, that fight or flight adrenaline rush that we experience might be triggered by something very mundane, such as hunger, thirst, or a lack of sleep. 

Asking yourself questions and reframing the situation helps to determine exactly how you are feeling, if you are feeling stressed from the incident or the situation, or is it being brought on by extraneous factors? Yesterday's article on Interoception, “Listening to the Signals Within”, provides a good way for someone under stress to remove themselves from the emotional static. 

Use breathing. Meditation. Focus. Reframe the issue or the situation, thereby reducing the triggers for stress.

Although stress is inevitable, the perception that you may have lost control, or merely recognizing that your emotions and your adrenaline levels are accelerated and heightened, provides you with a framework to tackle the issues, appropriately.  

You can learn to recognize, reframe, and reconsider your thoughts to promote a more calm, peaceful, and curious attitude about events and situations.

Another method is journaling. I've used journaling in my professional and academic work for many decades. It's a great way to provide concrete form to your feelings. And perhaps even create a whole a new world for yourself by establishing strategies, goals and milestones that you would like to achieve in the future.

As Peter Drucker, the management guru, has stated. “What gets measured, gets managed”, a great way to feel in control and able to manage your affairs smoothly and with little stress. 

Journaling involves the same concept of opening the possibility of reframing your perspective, learning best practices, and even reshaping our understanding of what we have been through. Sometimes things feel overwhelming but riding them out and journaling 5-10 minutes, three to five days per week, has been shown to reduce stress, enhance mood and strengthen cognitive processing. 

Many famous historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Marcus Aurelius and Winston Churchill are just some of the figures who have been known to keep regular journals. One of the great things about journaling is the fact that there is no wrong way to do it. Since there is no one way to journal, however you would like to proceed is the best way for you. 

You might want to ask yourself some questions, such as:   What am I feeling right now?  What has been consuming my thoughts or emotional energy?

What has gone well for me this week and what has not gone so well? What is a belief I want to reflect in my life? What is the belief I would like to let go of? 

So, over time, you may begin to notice patterns in your thoughts and narratives. Reflecting on these allows you a wider perspective of your world and gives you the opportunity for growth and insight. 

The longer that you journal, it becomes more in-depth and engaging, giving you an understanding of life that is encased in a narrative, which includes your emotions, your experiences, and new perspectives to your awareness.  

By journaling, we often are able to gain greater clarity, control and intention in our lives.