Reframing your mindset

Since the Pandemic and all the changes that were brought about, the world has seen an increase in anxiety and mental health. BBC report showed that the, ‘coronvirus had fuelled feelings of […] anxiety and fears’ ‘(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55957105)

Fears and anxiety can keep you in a stuck state. Sometimes your perspective of what you see or understand about your life may not be what you think you see and understand.

For example, the picture below shows how often we only see half of a situation. Like the iceberg we only see a part, but what we don’t see is the other half below the sea. Likewise, we are only aware of 10% of our conscious mind but beneath that is 90% of our subconscious mind that we are unaware of and acknowledge.

So why is your subconscious mind so important? It holds of lot of your fears, anxieties as well as your dreams and hopes. Reframing your mindset can help you to recognise negative messages received along your life’s journey, as far back as when you were a child. For example, labels that were attached to us because of what we heard being said about ourselves, are difficult to release or change as we often carry them into adulthood.

Viewing things from a different perspective can support you in changing your mindset, and develop the ability to see situations in a different light and perspective. Continuous negative thinking can lead to worry, fear and harm our mental health over time.

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) highlights a technique called Reframing, where you view a situation from different angles, different points of view that produces a clearer state of mind. More positive and affirming thoughts about yourself and your situation can produce the ability to create a positive statement in the present about yourself and your life. For example, Shakti Gawain who wrote ‘Creative Visualisation’ teaches how to use the power of your mind to create a more positive mindset. Below are some of my favourites I use regularly:

• ‘Everything I need is already within me’
• ‘I am the master of my life’
• ‘I love and appreciate myself just as I am’

There are so many more positive thoughts and statements you can create about yourself. So, go ahead and create them and remember ‘is the glass half empty or half full’ – it all depends on how you see it!