You entered 2021 with a deep desire for change. You wanted things to feel different and set goals to make that happen. Why did some goals just flop? Are they really that much harder than the others? Chances are it’s because you’ve attached negative beliefs to those goals that got in the way of your success.
Solution? You have to shift how you see that particular goal. You need a different lens.
One of my subspecialties as a military officer was helping pilots see better at night. We trained pilots to use Night Vision Goggles. Simply stated, Night Vision Goggles [NVG’s] use thermal imaging technology to allow people [in this case, pilots] to actually see in the dark. Pretty cool technology that most of us will never use.
While most of us will never use NVG’s, it’s a powerful metaphor for helping us understand how we can see ourselves or our goals differently. The concept I’m referring to is called Reframing or Cognitive Reframing.
One example of reframing is redefining a problem as a challenge. Such a redefinition activates a different way of being. Problem has a heavy quality to it, while the notion of a challenge is energizing.
The main goal of reframing is to rewire negative thoughts and to turn them into positive ones. In therapeutic practices, cognitive reframing is used to help patients improve their memory, reduce anxiety and cope with limitations. In coaching, the goal of reframing is similar: to help others turn negative beliefs into positive ones to create better outcomes.
Like me, you probably have no desire to see what others do at night – but we need to see ourselves in a different light. That’s the pathway at times to growth in a particular area. Just like NVG’s can allow you to see things “unseen”, reframing can get you seeing yourself and how you think in a new way.
- Do you have a goal that just continues to dog you?
- Do you have one part of your life that grinds on you and just seems out of place when compared to the rest of your life?
Rest assured that whether it’s your personal or business life, you can use reframing to finally create the reality you desire.
Next week is a two-part series on how you can Change your Business Story and Change your Personal Story.