For example:
Thought: That person did challenged because they don’t respect me.
Reframe: What if that person challenged me because they do respect me?
Thought: That person has a low opinion of me.
Reframe: what if that person is scared I have a low opinion of them.
Thought: The reason I find this person challenging is because I’m obviously really tricky.
Reframe: I find this person challenging because I’ve tried so hard to easy going I haven’t implemented any boundaries.
The purpose of this is not to make up a new storyline of “everything is perfect”.
The purpose is to help you let go of unhelpful thoughts by realising they are not incontrovertible facts.
The reframe shows us there are 2 explanations that exist for someone’s behaviour (not dissimilar to quantum physics where Schrodingers cat can exist in two states, dead and alive).
The same is true for your thoughts. Both could be true. Both could be false.
What that allows us to do is to create less attachment to our thoughts. To see them as they are. Mental events.
We are not hostage to them. We don’t have to be ruled by them.
So the next time you find yourself stuck in a loop….
Ask yourself “what if the opposite was true?”
Then see if you can let both of thoughts go and carry on being marvellous.
