Planted Not Buried: The Ultimate Reframe

At this point in time many people are feeling as if our “new normal” is permanent. Information overload continues and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with what’s true and what’s not true. COVID-19 has led to job loss, lay-offs, changes in the school structure, cancelled vacations, and social isolation. Many individuals find themselves feeling as if there is no hope and that the lost time and wages far outweigh what’s to come. And if good things are coming, we ask ourselves when. Sometimes it feels like never. These thoughts and feelings get heavy. We stare them in the face daily, asking ourselves what can be done? Well, there’s no harm in trying a reframe.

Cognitive reframing is defined as a psychological technique that consists of identifying and then changing the way situations, experiences, events, ideas, and/or emotions are viewed; a process by which situations or thoughts are challenged, then changed. A person’s point of view depends on the frame it’s viewed in.

 

Most of us have faced many challenges, especially during the time of COVID-19 and the stressors that have come with it. Many aspects of our current lives are unknown and can often feel daunting. One thing after another adds on and before long we feel buried beneath a pile of anxiety, stress, and fear. Often times it feels dark and hopeless. In the words of Christine Caine, “sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been planted.” Did you hear that? Planted, not buried. The ultimate reframe.

Finding peace and hope in a stressful time can be a challenging thing to do. Like anything, reframing takes practice, awareness, and commitment. Much like a seed that has been planted deep into the soil grows and persists until it breaks ground and reaches the light, humans have the ability to grow and evolve even when times are dark. What are the areas in your life that are in need of growth? The extra time with family and the slower pace that might have come with COVID-19 and quarantine, offer many of us the opportunity to plant ourselves and to grow. A shift in perspective encourages a growth mindset. A growth mindset fosters empowerment, positivity, and strength. Reframing is a good place to start. I invite you all to bloom.