Week 6- Reframing & Examining the Stories We Tell Ourselves
AFS Education
Administrator, Moderator, Practitioner admin
Happy Monday & Happy Holiday AFS Fit Family-
We've made it to the second to last week in the No Cave November Challenge.. time has really flown by. I know this will be a busy week for many of us with the holiday, but we sincerely hope you will take a little bit of time to explore this weeks video and content.
This week we are talking about REFRAMING.
We all tell ourselves countless stories everyday. These stories are based on our perception of our environment, our actions, and the things that happen to us or around us. Sometimes these stories are helpful... sometimes they are harmless... sometimes however, the stories we tell ourselves in our heads, and the beliefs we build up around them, can be incredibly damaging, painful, and limiting to our success and potential as a human being. When it comes to these types of stories, the skill of reframing becomes incredibly important.
Check out Devin & Nate's thoughts on reframing in the video below, and we HIGHLY encourage you all to share your reframing stories in the comments below this week.
Have a very Happy Holiday.
Sincerely,
Your AFS Fit Family
Comments
The reframing I'm most grateful for in 2019:
Even as I typed the above, I had a bit of fast-thinking "oof, now when I get on a plane it's going to crash," "well, it could be the case that someone I love would be in danger" and I had to talk myself through those thoughts. Reframing became a necessity in order for me to travel for work, and provide appropriate attention to friends and family.
What helped with flying (have been on 18+ planes since July; huzzah) -
What helped me with phone breaks -
Recommended reading that discusses reframing: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman; Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences.
I have succeeded in my goal of 6 workouts/week except for last week I missed one of my Peloton workouts because my legs were a disaster after FSX squattastrophe. I reframed that not as a failure but as a necessary time to focus on recovery, and to focus on the quality of my workouts over quantity. I have repeatedly proven to myself that I get a better workout in when I am adequately rested and my legs aren’t sore so I took an unplanned rest day and came back to crush my next three workouts. Today I will miss an FSX class Bc AFS isn’t open but rather than blame you guys having lives for me failing at my goal I will do an extra Peloton class and lift at home so as not to miss my workout today! 😂 And I plan to put in a rare bonus appearance in FS class this week. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah AFS friends! 🎄🎅🏻🏋🏻♀️
I'm a huge fan or reframing, I think it is such a critical life skill to examine the stories we tell ourselves. One thing that I think is so important to consider with the concept of reframing is awareness. I think you have to be opened to the stories you're even telling yourself first before you even begin to reframe. So many of us walk around unaware of the stories we tell ourselves and the voices that are in our head. How often to you stop to listen to that seemingly pointless mind-chatter? If you stop and listen you might find it's not all that pointless at all. In fact, it can give you tremendous insight into the stories you're telling yourself.
I know for me personally, I used to be under the illusion that I didn't tell myself any unproductive stories (doesn't that sound like the picture of lack of awareness). I was under this illusion simply because I never took the time to check in on what I was actually telling myself and what I was actually, truly, experiencing. I would go through life not very aware of the thoughts, mind-chatter, and emotions I was feeling throughout my day. Consequently whenever anyone asked how I was feeling, my response would reflexively be "fine" or "good" when in fact there were many times I was anything but fine or good (@Devin Tarrant and @Nate Langley have been always very good at pointing out to me when I say I'm fine/good when in fact, I'm probably not - thanks for that guys).
My point is this, before you dive deep into reframing, I've found you need to know what you are in most need of reframing. A lot of us are completely unaware. I can say this with confidence because I was completely unaware for the longest time (yet I convinced myself I was aware...it's funny how your self-protective brain tries to keep you away from painful things - isn't it). Once I took the time to get comfortable (with being uncomfortable) and listen to inner-self (through mindfulness/meditation, reflection, and slowing down) I found a whole series of things flying through my mind that could use some reframing.
As we enter into the holiday season, when things hopefully slow a little bit for many of us (at least with work and professional responsibilities) hopefully this gives each of a chance to sit back and listen to our internal dialogue with ourselves. These are some of the most important conversations we have, but quite often we don't even realize they're going on. Give yourself the amazing Christmas of self-reflection and self-awareness. Take the time to notice your thoughts and question why they exist (don't get caught too much in this process initially, as it can become uncomfortable and maybe even a little painful). Take the time to notice your emotions and try to understand what's cause those to manifest themselves. Again, be cautious about diving too deep initially, but at least start to lean into these thoughts and emotions. Remember as you explore them, you can't control them or make them go away, you can - however - choose how you react and respond to them. One of those responses may be reframing, but it all begins with awareness. Indeed, if the frame has no picture in it in the first place there's nothing to "reframe." Find the picture first, understand it, and then begin the highly positive and productive process of reframing.
Michael E. Stack, BS CFP CSCS*D CPS
AGENT OF CHANGE, CEO, & Exercise Physiologist
I just wanted to say, this has been the best Christmas in terms of not overeating and not eating just junk, and it's because of all of you! The staff and the clients have given me so many tools to use in food planning, and enjoying a few treats without overdoing it or having feelings of guilt and failure. There's so many ways all of you have helped me, I can't go through them all or it would be a book. But reframing how I look at "falling off the wagon" as not a disaster but just a pitstop before getting back on again, that has been the topper. For the first time I think I'm going through these holidays and heading into the new decade with a positive outlook on my progress, past, present and future.
So thank you. Enjoy the holidays, and be kind to yourself.
That's awesome to hear Trish. Thank you for being such an awesome contributor to the support here as well!
Agent of Change / Fitness Innovation & Education Coordinator