Staying Positive
November 2, 2007
Much to my surprise I saw a comic in the San Francisco Chronicle that actually was in the positive psychology realm. The first box was an event that was ucky, then the hero came in and “Reframed” the event to something positive. He called this his “Reframing Studio,” and invited everyone to come to it whenever they wanted. I have carried this image with me as I go about my daily business and step into negative situtations, i.e., standing in line at the bank while someone is yelling at the teller. I enter my “Reframing Studio,” with the negative event and shape it into something positive on my own time.
The bank was a challenge. OK, to the Reframing Studio.
As the man in line vented, a fellow teller quietly walked over and helped the harried one, gently and effectively. The angry man got his banking done and left, yea. Studio work - The angry man, who was able to dump some emotion, created a situation where someone could be helpful to another. I hope the teller under assault felt gratitude about the help. Hmmm, this masterpiece may need more work but at least it’s a start.
What I like about my Reframing Studio is it gives me a place to take situations that I find disturbing, not in a good way, work on them, leave them there to come back to, if needed. I can lock the door when I’m ready to leave the disturbing event and reframing work and go about my day more at peace.
Let me know what you think about this practice.
Linda
I love the reframing studio concept. As the director you can determine the course of the reframe. Like reframing for gratitude. Reframing for opportunity and such. It’s a wonderful exercise for letting go of our negative framing and thus emotion and the rigidity that seems to go with it. I was pondering Road Rage the other day when I observed a lovely woman with a child in her care become enraged by someone’s driving transgression. Why take it personally? Maybe it epitomized her day. I feel fortunate that I do not have such inclinations. However, I do believe your Reframe Studio as well as gratitude exercises could be a powerful antedote to Road Rage.