4️⃣Reframing
Lady or witch?
This classic example of an optical illusion demonstrates that two people can look at the SAME IMAGE and see two completely different things. Reframing as a peer supporter utilizes this to benefit someone’s mental health.
Imagine a man on a subway
As he sits next to you, he lets his kids run up and down the aisles, knocking into people and interrupting the common manners of the space. Most parents would intervene, have their children sit down and be still, teach them about basic etiquette. But this man doesn’t even seem to notice his kids rowdiness. After minutes of this, you finally stand up, indignant with his indecency, and say, “Sir, would you please get control of your children?”
Slowly he looks up at you and says, “Oh, I hadn’t noticed that. I’m so sorry. You see, we are just coming back from the hospital where their mother died.”
When perceived his inaction as negligent and proceeded to be angry. When we changed our perspective to see he is lost in his grief, we have compassion.
Perspective changes our
interpretation of our circumstances.
Research of Effectiveness
Reframing has been proven to help improve symptoms of depression and develop self-compassion among other positive benefits.
As peer supporters, we have a powerful opportunity to reframe negativity and offer different perspectives. We can take what feels like a failure and turn it into a success of character and improve someone’s perception of their own mastery experiences. In this chapter, we’ll learn how to offer this effectively to others.
