25 essential Reframes
Have no one to run a Reframe session with? No worries, I’ve got you. Here are some of my favorite mindshift questions to help you expand your perspective on a challenge.
1. I wonder what keeps you holding on so tightly to your point of view?
2. What if you’re grateful for where you are now in the journey?
3. I wonder what you gain by staying stuck?
4. I wonder what your limitless self would advise you to do right now.
5. I wonder what the person you respect most would advise you to do right now
6. What if you were less impatient?
7. What if you approached this situation as if it had just started, with a completely fresh and untainted perspective?
8. I wonder if this is just a season and if the issue will resolve naturally with time?
9. What if you reached out to five people and asked for help or guidance on this?
10. What if you distract yourself from this challenge for a bit and come back to it?
11. I wonder if you can take some small, calculated risks to try to solve this problem with your best guess as to what will work.
12. I wonder if you should use a Magic 8 ball/flip a coin/pull a tarot card, and commit to doing whatever it says.
13. What if you really considered the worst-case scenario? Is it as bad as you fear?
14. What if you broke down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts?
15. I wonder what advice a child would give you about this situation?
16. What if you tried the exact opposite of what you’ve been doing so far?
17. What if you do research and actively seek out stories of people who have overcome similar challenges for inspiration?
18. I wonder how changing your daily routine or habits might impact how you see this problem.
19. I wonder what you’re avoiding.
20. What if you imagined yourself in the future where this problem is already solved – what would you say was the decision that changed everything?
21. What if you reimagined this problem as the plot of a movie – how would the hero triumph? What would they do differently?
22. I wonder how embracing a completely opposite viewpoint for a day (or talking to someone who has an opposing viewpoint for a few hours) might expand your perspective on this issue.
23. What if the insecurity you’re pretending not to have is the reason why you’re feeling stuck, not the actual problem?
24. I wonder what bold steps you would take if absolutely nothing was standing in your way and you believed you couldn’t fail.
25. What if you only had one more year left to live? What would you do?
I hope one of these works. If not, write up your issue and ask ChatGPT for 25 “what if” questions for you. Here’s an idea for a prompt you can use:
“Please assist me in exploring a situation creatively. I’m seeking 25 ‘what if’ questions across various categories, such as digging deeper, zooming out for a broader perspective, reducing urgency, increasing urgency, considering the opposite, looking at the upside, and brainstorming innovative solutions. Once I describe the scenario, please generate questions that align with these categories.”
WHAT IF I HAVE NO PROBLEMS?
At least once in each session, someone will say they have no problems. Great. It probably means you don’t need a reframe. Why would you reframe when everything is fine? But almost always, a problem emerges from that same person, but it only comes up when they have the three minutes to share whatever is on their mind.
A good problem-free prompt that helps me figure out what to bring to a session when I have no problems is, “Where is there a chapter turning in my life, and what hesitations do I have about what’s coming?”
Or, “What step forward am I avoiding?” But let’s say you are truly problem-free - then there’s still good news: the absence of the problem doesn’t mean the absence of opportunity for growth.
1. Identify Areas for Personal Growth:
If there aren’t any glaring issues and you find yourself in a reframe session, it could be valuable to seek feedback from others on potential areas for improvement, whether in your personal or professional life. If asking for the truth is uncomfortable, this practice could be great in helping you evolve.
2. Unlock Hidden Aspirations:
Have any sidelined dreams?
Maybe a reframe can unearth why you’ve been holding back. Or dive into a huge creative project that’s life-changing and you know will push your mental and emotional boundaries to uncover challenges or blocks you didn’t realize were there.
3. Help Others:
With no immediate problems of your own, you may have time to help others. What’s a challenge a non-profit or charity is having? Email them, find out, and offer to send ideas to them.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO SHARE MY PROBLEM
Yep, that is understandable. Not everyone finds sharing struggles with coworkers or even strangers appealing. It’s common to doubt new methods, especially when they involve vulnerability and trusting others for feedback. Your inner critic has probably already determined that this is not for you.
Vulnerability can be tough. Trusting people can be tough. What if it doesn’t work and any hope I had to have a solution is now squashed? I have felt this way, too, and it’s why sometimes, I’d rather just say it’s not going to work than try.
Luckily, there are a few other ways to reframe. You don’t need this exact group format - especially if you’re not going to give it a real shot anyway. There are multiple ways to build your ‘reframing muscle.’ The original reframe was a silent 3-minute activity of writing down “what ifs” and then sharing them in a group. That way, no one overpowers them, and the introverts are sure to have a voice. And if you don’t want to say them out loud, just gather the ideas and move on to the next person.
You can read the ideas later in privacy. If group calls aren’t your thing, that’s okay. This is just one method among many.
Consider these options:
• Journaling:
Use guides like Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” for a solo reframing retreat one where she’ll transform your life by simply connecting you to your creativity. This is the book I recommend the most for those looking to get unstuck and reframed about life.
• Woo Woo:
Meditation, guided visualization, psychics, energy healers, talking to angels and guides, and my higher self - I love it all, and I can vouch for how much spirituality and knowing who I am at the core has reframed who I think I am and everything that matters to me. By understanding my ego and my highest self, I know what frequency to tune into to get the positive outcomes I want. Insight Timer has some incredible options if you’re open to this sort of thing.
• Asking and Listening:
Sometimes, I’ll complain about something going on in my life to my soul sisters and just be quiet for 3 minutes. They have the answer for what this is really about and what I’m not seeing. They always do. It’s incredible what you can learn by just letting people talk about what they would do if they were you without interrupting them. There is almost always a reframe hidden within the words of those who love us.
• Professional Coaching:
If group settings aren’t comfortable, one-on-one sessions with a coach might provide a more tailored approach to reframing. I have a few friends who are incredible executive coaches, and when I call them, I get masterfully reframed 100% of the time.
• A Book/Podcast/Event: Anything that feels right. Trust that you’ll see or hear what you need. Pay attention to your reaction to these things—what excites you, what turns you off, and what does this reveal about your blind spots?
And when an idea hits, play with it. Start with a “what if” that feels manageable. Experiment with it. It may not provide the ultimate answer, but it’s a step forward from being stuck. Being open to possibilities can unveil paths you hadn’t considered before simply by choosing openness over rigidity.