In my personal growth journey, I frequently use a transformative tool known as reframing. Reframing is the process of shifting our perspectives (or frames) to better understand and navigate our experiences. This tool is transformative because our framing directly impacts how we perceive situations, make decisions, and ultimately, shape our lives. It’s not just about changing how we view things; it’s about changing the outcomes we can achieve.

Testing Different Frames

A fascinating way to explore the power of reframing is by testing new perspectives where they diverge from our existing ones. We can think of this as a contest between frames, where the winner is the frame that leads to the most accurate predictions and intelligent decisions.

To test a new frame, we can form statements such as:

If I do X [action], then Y [outcome] will likely happen.

We can then compare these predictions with those of our previous frames. When the outcomes differ, we can devise tests to determine which frame offers more accurate predictions.

The power of a frame lies within its predictive accuracy. Frames without practical predictive application are largely affectations and not necessarily significant.

Dating and Relationships

Years ago when I was exploring the realm of dating and relationships, a friend, who was well-versed in social situations, made a prediction about a woman’s interest in me based solely on her body language from across the room. Despite my initial skepticism, his prediction proved astonishingly accurate. This incident challenged my existing frames and opened my eyes to the power of body language and social cues. This stunningly accurate prediction led me to internalize a new frame, one that I could not unsee.

Such experiences illustrate why testing different frames can be so enriching. Even frames that initially seem strange or counterintuitive can sometimes yield surprising results. This is why I delved into exploring Subjective Reality so much, including creating the 60-lesson Submersion course. The results were simply better.

Reframing and Skill Enhancement

Reframing is an extraordinary tool for skill enhancement too. It allows us to unlock more of our natural abilities and overcome mental barriers. In the realm of public speaking, for instance, reframing can alleviate fear, anxiety, and nervousness. By shifting the frame from viewing a speaking engagement as a performance to a co-created experience, it transforms the situation into a mutually beneficial and enjoyable flow.

Pushing the boundaries of a new frame can be a powerful way to test its potential. For example, in 2015, I ran the three-day Conscious Heart Workshop in Las Vegas with no pre-planned content, relying solely on the flow of inspiration and audience suggestions. This challenge allowed me to test the new frame to its limits, resulting in a fun and engaging experience – and with no nervousness or anxiety. With my old frames, I could never have hoped to do have a three-day, off-the-cuff workshop – confidently, trusting in the flow of ideas, and with glowingly positive feedback from participants.

Reframing and Financial Abundance

Reframing can also significantly impact our relationship with financial abundance. In my 20s, I struggled financially, even going bankrupt at 28. My frame at that time was primarily about trying to earn money. However, this approach did not lead to the desired outcome.

Today my relationship with money is very different and has been so for many years. Instead of chasing money, I focus on creating interesting experiences, stretching myself creatively, and continuously learning and growing. This shift in perspective has allowed financial abundance to flow with relative ease.

Embracing Positive Emotional Energy

One of the most significant upgrades in my framing process is paying attention to my emotional energy. By working towards making the emotional energy positive in all situations, I enjoy the process of creation more. For instance, while creating my most recent YouTube video, I focused on enjoying the process rather than striving for a specific outcome. This positive energy not only made the creation process enjoyable but also enhanced the overall vibe of the finished video.

Gamifying the Process

Another valuable aspect of reframing involves gamification. By viewing tasks as elements of a game, we can transform potentially dull or tedious tasks into fun, engaging activities.

For example, when I wanted to create a thumbnail image for that same video, I initially felt resistance towards this task as it seemed boring. However, by reframing the task as an opportunity to play with Stable Diffusion to create a unique background image, I transformed this otherwise dull task into an enjoyable process. I like using creative AI tools, so that was a more interesting way to begin. Not only did this make the task more engaging, but it also resulted in a higher than average clickthrough rate for the video. I often find that when I seek the path of enjoyment internally, the external results are good too.

Another gamification was to challenge myself to record all 20 minutes of the video in one continuous take – no pauses or retakes. This added an element of risk and excitement, making the process more stimulating. Such challenges often transform mundane tasks into compelling experiences.

Reframing: A Powerful Tool for Personal Growth

The journey of personal growth is not a linear path but a dynamic, evolving process. As we navigate down this road, tools like reframing play an instrumental role in shaping our experiences, skills, and outcomes. Reframing helps us to continually challenge our perceptions, test our boundaries, and discover new ways of thinking and being.

In fact, this skill is so important that for this new Year in Conscious Growth Club, which started on May 1st, we’ve introduced a new live call format (one of many) called Reframing Rendezvous. On these calls I’ll spend an hour guiding our members through reframing practice, so they can get better at this key skill over the course of our year together.

As we explore different frames and incorporate them into our lives, we not only enrich our experiences but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Whether it’s improving our social interactions, enhancing our skills, achieving financial abundance, or transforming tedious tasks into engaging activities, reframing offers a powerful tool for personal growth.

Always remember that a problem, challenge, or opportunity can be defined in multiple ways. Stay open to questioning your default mode of thinking about situations, especially when you find yourself stuck for a while. Sometimes the best breakthroughs come from releasing your old viewpoints and looking at life from fresh and divergent angles.