A MOMENT TO REASSESS

As human beings we have learned that no response, experience, or behavior is meaningful outside of the context in which it was established, or the response it elicits next. In short, all meaning is context dependent. 

You're thinking, 'Okay... What? Here's an example. I once had a client who had an ongoing feud with her husband and children about their living room carpet. She adored her family and also loved keeping the living room carpet smooth with straight lines from the vacuum cleaner and no foot or hand impressions left on the carpet. I asked what the smooth carpet meant to her. She shared that it was visual evidence that she loved her husband and kids and was conveying  that by keeping that carpet so perfect. I asked what the foot and hand impressions in the carpet meant to her, she explained that it symbolized chaos, noise, and work to do again. 

It was time to reassess or Reframe. I asked that she give me descriptors for the smooth carpet again, "quiet, order, untouched, taking care of things for the family, being a good Mom." I asked her to focus on the smooth carpet again and said, "look, no foot or hand impressions. Listen, no talking, no laughter, no playing, you're all alone. No one is here. No sharing of the smooth carpet." She became tearful and observed that the prints on the carpet actually meant she was surrounded by and spending time with the people she loves most. The always smooth carpet was pushing away what she wanted most, being with her family. 

Taking some time to reassess / Reframe situations in our lives can instantly change a liability to an asset, a burden to a blessing! REASSESS REFRAME