Reframing is a powerful tool we can use in our personal development journey. It allows us to shift our perspective, and see challenges as opportunities. It’s like taking a situation that feels heavy and hopeless and shining a light on the parts that can inspire and uplift us.
For example, imagine facing a tough situation at work where a project you’ve poured your heart into isn’t going as planned. The initial response might be frustration, disappointment, or even self-doubt. But by reframing, you could see this as a chance to learn, to build resilience, or to pivot toward something even more aligned with your true goals.
Reframing helps us recognise that life isn’t just about what happens to us but how we choose to perceive and respond to those events. It’s the skill of seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty, which can be incredibly empowering.
However, here lies the subtle danger: the tendency to lean too far into reframing, to the point where it veers into toxic positivity. This happens when we force ourselves to focus only on the positive aspects of a situation, ignoring or suppressing the very real and valid feelings of pain, frustration, or sadness. It’s as if we try to convince ourselves that the glass is only half full, refusing to acknowledge that it’s also half empty.
Toxic positivity can lead us to dismiss our own emotions, and those of others and it can create a disconnect from reality and from the experience of being fully human. It’s like putting a band-aid on a deep wound—covering it up without truly healing it. Over time, this can cause us to feel even more isolated and misunderstood, especially when we expect ourselves to be relentlessly positive.
The true power lies in embracing the complexity of life. We recognise that it’s okay to feel disappointment while also holding onto hope. It’s okay to grieve what was lost while appreciating what remains. This balance is where real growth happens.
It isn’t about erasing negativity or only focusing on the bright side. It’s about cultivating the ability to see the full picture, to hold space for all our emotions, and to find strength in that authenticity. When we can do this, we don’t just reframe our thoughts—we transform our entire being. We grow into someone who can navigate life with profound wisdom, and a deep sense of self-awareness.
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Dorothee Marossero
Transformational Coach | NLP Master Practitioner | Yoga Teacher
CEO and Founder of Fearlessly Yourself
I empower professional women to transition from self-doubt, fatigue, and overwhelm to self-leadership, inner peace, and joy. By integrating Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and somatic practices, I facilitate profound and lasting transformation in both their personal and professional lives.
IG: @dorotheemarossero
FB: Fearlessly Yourself
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