Cognitive Reframing

Cognitive reframing can be a powerful tool for building both a growth mindset and resilience. According to research, it’s a skill that involves interpreting and thinking about events in a more positive and beneficial way and it helps us to adapt and overcome challenging situations, which build resilience (Troy et al., 2013). In other words, instead of asking, “What if it all goes wrong?” a reframing of this would look like, “What if it all goes right?”

Other examples of cognitive reframing:
Instead of:
“I always make mistakes”
Try this:
“I can learn and grow from this”

Instead of:
“This is so stressful”
Try this:
“My body’s stress response is priming me for this situation. I can handle it, as I have overcome 100% of my worst days”

Reframing isn’t about turning a blind eye to your problems but, rather, shifting your mind’s lens to look at the flip side of the same coin: the possibility of an optimistic, positive, or different outcome.

Cognitive reframing is also linked to increased psychological well-being (Southwisk et al., 2014) and can lower levels of stress (Robbins et al., 2019). The beauty of this? Anyone can learn and practice it – it's like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets!

Do you practice cognitive reframing?

~Kate