Re-Viewing The Economy
Reframing: Simple Ways To Re-View.
I'm basically a cheerful person at heart. I also love reading the newspapers. This combination has been a wee bit challenging lately. So rather than our usual technique embedded in a story this week I'm giving you the chance to play, too.
Here's the game: The goal is for you to feel better and more capable right now.
The obstacle: excessive amounts of bad economic news.
The gloom and doom headlines that best serve to sell the news are a rich source of opportunities to play with reframing. Even with little or no experience you can use this tool to let yourself feel better and more resourceful right now.
For instance, when (as in California) unemployment hits 10%, it's a good idea to look at the other side of that number: 90% aren't unemployed. (meaning reframing)
When the stock market drops to 1997 levels, it's good to remember that we've been here before. (context reframing)
When the stock market drops to 1997 levels It's good to remember what happened in the next couple of years:
With a new Presidential administration committed to science, technology, education and health care, we experienced one of the most explosive bull markets in our lifetime.
We advanced into a new world called the internet, experiencing the greatest revolution in information since the printing press.
We had one of the greatest periods of business formation in our history.
And we ended the next eight years with a budget surplus.
Have a favorite example? Add it to the "comments!"
Have one you'd like reframed? Add that, too! I'll be checking in and responding over the weekend.
Although now widely known and used NLP began popularizing the concept of framing and reframing some 35 years ago. You can get some depth in the "Fundamentals of NLP" Home Study Guide. You can find out even more about it in our "Living Encyclopedia of NLP." The framing model is a core element of our NLP Immersion programs.
Announcements This Week:
IASH, the NLP non-profit research organization, is sponsoring a modeling project on healthy sleep. If you've got some NLP training and you'd like to play, or just find out what a project like this is like, the full details at this link (pdf):
Pings on Re-Viewing The Economy
Comments on Re-Viewing The Economy
The workshop we announced in last week's newsletter teaches Reframing for change agents, with respect to: Time, Scope, Altitude, Context. Sometimes the best reframes can come in the form of questions. A few of our favorites (from the workbook) include:
• Is the reason you haven’t changed [implemented the plan] because you don’t want to … or because you don’t know how to? (acknowledges resistance when someone hasn’t made a shift or change).
• Are you acting as the leader you want your people to be? (useful when someone says they don’t have “time” to develop others or do the activities required of a good leader. Sneak up on it … by getting them to acknowledge that people learn by modeling, and to notice how what they are doing IS being modeled perfectly, and creating the next generation of [leaders … parents … change agents] that will do exactly what they do.)
• “Shall we re-commit to mediocrity or re-define excellence?” (useful when the going gets tough, the project is off-track, over-budget)
When you get layed off..it is a wonderful opportunity to do what you love, start a business and help make the economy better.
With all these stunning examples in our headlines it is apparent we are in the midst of the highest opportunity (in memory conscious history) of noticing what we may not prefer and out of such complex and specific examples of what we do not prefer will surely emerge noticing what we indeed DO prefer.
I would enjoy re-framing your reframe: 90% of the population ARE employed.
Thank you for the exercise!! Blessings,
SueLynn
Life to Home Coaching
831-254-9400
Thank you–I crumple a little every time I see the "scare" headlines, and I know it doesn't have to be that way.
Nice one, Nick. That is what I found to be the case when I was suddenly jobless.
That led to starting an NLP Institute. It's been a pretty cool 19 years.
Hi SueLynn,
Yes, in NLP lingo, we have an abundance of examples to move "away from." As you note, the choice is to find more of what we want to move towards.
Cheers,
Tom Dotz
NLP Comprehensive
My husband and I have used the issues our nation faces to build character in our children. The kids are stepping up to the plate and helping with chores and being more responsible with their homework so mom and dad can put a little extra effort into our jobs in hopes of keeping them. Our grandparents did it with the Great Depression, we can do it now!
Nice utilization, Kim. It's really great for your kids to experience their ability to contribute to the family and to begin to take ownership of their lives.
Cheers,
Tom Dotz
NLP Comprehensive
Tom, my area of experience is Mind Body Health, and I am pondering this subject in terms of pain , which of course can be physical and emotional.
I live in Victoria, Australia where we have recently suffered horrific heat and fires for weeks on end, resulting in much death and destruction.
A couple of days ago I was speaking to a nursing colleague about utilising a series of Therapeutic Relaxation CD's I have produced, to enable the patients to relax and be more comfortable during procedures, and she commented they had already completed some 'pain' studies with patients in the burns ward involving other techniques.
She found that from a scientific perspective, there was no change although the patients reported they felt better!
I suggested if were possible it would be interesting to research this in terms of 'comfort'.
So to ask, to what degree or where in your body or in your life is there comfort?
It occurred to me this question would segway rather neatly to the subject of financial hardship or unemployment and all this involves.
So to sit more with the blessings what ever they may be.
From todays NY times
"Another 651,000 jobs disappeared from the American economy in February, the government reported Friday, as the unemployment rate soared to 8.1 percent — its highest level since 1983"
Hmmm…, 1983, thats the year I got my last job. It was tough at the time, I had a newborn, a new mortgage and a 2 year old. Got a job though, bought a sports car, grew more babies and generally had a great time for the next 25 years… makes you think huh..
Actually, till I read the Times headline I didn't even know I was out of work in the worst economy since the depression.
And now, well, as I watch my wife of 30 years die in front of me of cancer, well, that's tough.
Hi Stu,
Just found your comment, for some unknown reason it wasn't posted.
That's a far tougher situation and deserves much more respect than to attempt reframing in a public venue.
Best regards,
Tom Dotz
Oh,
I forgot to mention that I had to go to new personal highs to get that job. My old best just wasn't good enough any more. The lesson for me was it wasn't about the economy (the jobs were there) it was about my capabilities..
As I've been reading and responding to these and some offline comments one theme keeps coming up.
With all the economic concerns the one investment that has held up, that no one is asking to reframe, that is still proof against market fluctuations, is our investment in our own learning and experience.
It could be life learning, hard won from war or imprisonment, business failure or death.
It could seem superficial, like the pleasure of a great vacation, or as profound as meeting the love of your life. It could be formal education, or just as important, the years of street smarts, the (all to un-) common sense that is one compensation for aging.
Technical education may obsolesce, yet you still had the experience of learning and efficacy and secondary opportunities that education provided.
Like Kim above, we can make choices to create positive experiences even from unwanted ones. Our power is our choice of how we respond to what the world throws at us. It is our choices that determine the quality of our lives.
I'm no Pollyanna and I'm no friend of Pangloss. I've seen parts of the world where the per capita income is a dollar a day. There too, in the midst of incredible poverty, people whose lives you wouldn't trade for under any circumstances, there is still choice, and still degrees of happiness.
How you choose to frame your experience is the one freedom that can't be taken from you, even by a government.
Choosing solution oriented frames is no guarantee of success. But it's sure the better way to bet.
After all, hiding in a cave because the sky is falling will most likely just leave you alone in the dark.
Cheers,
Tom Dotz
NLP Comprehensive
Reducing economic activity and consumer spending reduces the environmental costs of energy use, and encourages self-sufficiency and localism.
for all to consider
As a life coach, I enjoy the opportunity to play reframing games when I am car-pooling to work.
When they tell me what they do for a living and how bad “The Economy “is I then suggest different ways they can use their talent in other areas – from fear & depression to laughter in 20 Minutes
I am amused when one of them will drive up and honk for me to come over & ride in with them for another ‘session’
Only this time, they tell me of happy times.
Are we really in a recession or is it a matter of emotional withdraw created by a few business that panicked just as they did in the “29 crash”
Yes, my house was worth twice as much six months ago, however it was because some one was willing to offer that amount to purchase it. Why would they now since the escalation of foreclosures is continuing, empty homes are available … for less
Something I do not understand – would not the banks make more money, we have a stronger economy and fewer unemployed if the financial institutions {oxymoronic name} worked with the people that they gave the improper loans to originally?
I am one of the blessed ones, the house is worth less that I owe, I now have steady employment of one year as of today, barley paying the “bills”
if this had occurred a year ago {unemployed & on the verge}… shutter …I would be looking for a Life Coach to reframe my attitude … instead, I used my off time to become one
Namaste’ all
Hi All,
I am currently reading a great book by Jeffrey Sachs called "Common Wealth", which helps with the whole re-framing exercise by providing lots of good information about our current collision course with population, rising per-capita productivity (which also implies consumption), global warming, poverty, water stresses and so on. He also gives plenty of well-thought-out stategies for solutions (on a global scale) and the greatest challenge we collectively face is psychological: can we awaken this semi-slumbering humanity into pro-active, intelligent, cooperative action? How quickly can we convince the oh-so-vested interests to get out of the way, or even better, get with the program? My personal favorite is: What are the most effective ways that We the People can use to support only the good stuff, effectively choking off the economic fuel from the engines that currently propel us toward the precipice?
An earlier comment about the value of experience and learning seems poignantly relevant in this context, since intelligent action will enable us to maintain quality of life while reducing environmental and social consequences to manageable (or negligible) levels.
I've heard it said that the next 20 years will be very different from the previous 20. It seems to me that the gifts offered by NLP and Accelerated Learning are, and will continue to be, more relevant than ever.
Thanks for the opportunity to rant and dream.
Cabot in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Hello Tom,
My name is Nora and I am Argentinian. In my case, I think of the global crisis as just another economic problem, one of the many we've been through in our country. We're used to being involved in economic crisis and changes every five or ten years. We can look at it as one more. We've emerged from every one of them with different results according to the decisions taken by each of the governments. I prefer to think that, with so much experience on this matter, this time we will be able to get the best out of this.
Warmly, Nora.
Gloom and doom headlines everywhere you look on the news.
Is there any other piece of news that could possibly relief my mood?
I am still alive, looking out my window seeing bright sunshine coming in, the warm weather prevailing in my island in Mauritius is so pleasing. Yes, the world economy is in momentary tantrum, is not this the opportunity to live other wise in waiting for better days? Is not now the chance to rid of my superfluous and learn to live with the essentials by releasing my creativity? My wife thinks it is :
the time to reteach ourselves the habit of switching off the lights when we do not need them,
the time to relearn to read off the computer screen instead of printing a sheet of paper to read the text,
the time to readjust the air conditioner to a temperature which is still comfortable yet save of energy,
the time to re use parsimoniously water for our comfort and
the time to re enjoy each other 's company at home later that spending money at the lavish restaurant and outings
the time to release our sleeping creative powers.
1997 NLP comprehensive Master Pract attendee
Joseph Yiptong
Mauritius island Indian Ocean
Great comments and contributions! Keep them coming!