Sometimes in life we are faced with difficult situations and we are unsure of how to deal with them.
While our circumstances may not always change, we can always change the way we look at the situation.
In this podcast, LeAnn shares a personal story of how her husband had a stroke at the age of 30 while she was a stay at home mom with two kids, and pregnant with her third child. She tells the story in two different ways, framing it a different way each time. Through reflecting on this experience, focusing on different aspects of the story each time, she demonstrates how to effectively reframe a situation, turning it from something negative and depressing, to something more positive, realistic, and filled with hope.
There is power in cognitive reframing, or learning to look at a situation and change how you perceive it. If you focus on the negative aspects of a situation and fill your mind with doubt, fear, or self pity, it is harder to find solutions or coping mechanisms to deal with what is in front of you. On the contrary, when you focus on the positive things and learn to accept reality, while also maintaining optimism, your vision will broaden and you will find more options as you face difficult times.
