Creative Reframing
Materials Needed
Feeling
Out of Control
How to Do It
Take a situation that is making you feel out of control and reframe it creatively. For example, write a short story or draw a picture where you are the protagonist overcoming the challenge. Imagine how the situation could be seen from a different, more empowering perspective, and create something that represents this new viewpoint.
Why It Works
Creative reframing allows you to process and reimagine a situation in a way that puts you in control. It helps shift your mindset from feeling powerless to feeling empowered and capable of navigating challenges.
Guided Practice
Sit comfortably with a blank piece of paper and a pen. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, bringing your awareness to your mind. Imagine reframing a difficult situation into a creative opportunity. Notice any sensations of openness or resistance. Allow yourself to be with these feelings, without writing just yet.
Continue sitting comfortably, as you now deepen your focus with a few more breaths. Visualizing a current challenge or stressor in your life. Imagine it as an image or symbol on the paper—perhaps a heavy block, a tangled knot, or something else entirely. Notice what comes to mind and how this image feels in your body.
As you continue to breathe, consider how this image might change if you looked at it from a different perspective. Perhaps imagine it from above, below, or from a distance. Notice any new shapes, colors, or textures that appear as you shift your perspective. Allow yourself to play with this image, transforming it into something lighter or more manageable—maybe the block becomes a stepping stone, or the knot slowly unravels into a flowing river. Notice any changes in your feelings or thoughts as you engage in this creative reframing.
Stay with this visualization, exploring how this new image might change your beliefs about the challenge. Perhaps there is a sense of empowerment, a realization that the challenge is not as insurmountable as it seemed, or maybe a new insight emerges about how to approach it differently. Allow yourself to explore these feelings and insights fully, noticing any patterns or familiar feelings that come up.
When you feel ready, gently bring your focus back to your breath, allowing the transformed image to settle in your mind. Notice how your body feels now—whether there is a sense of lightness, clarity, or perhaps a renewed sense of purpose. Allow yourself to stay with this feeling for a few more moments. When you are ready, gently open your eyes, carrying this sense of creative empowerment with you into your day.