NLP stands for Neuro-linguistic programming, which has nothing to do with computers but is the study of effective communication and human performance.

Three elements are involved in the study of NLP:

  • How mind and body interact (Neuro);
  • How insight into a person’s thinking can be obtained by careful attention to the words they use to describe their situation (Linguistic);
  • How people respond to situations, and how people often adopt patterns of behaviour based on their perceptions of events (Programming).

Re-framing

Reframing is about changing one’s own or others’ perceptions by relating to and understanding something in another more positive and optimistic way.

When something significant happens to us and we look for meanings in the event; we give the event a particular meaning, based on our interpretation of it. Our interpretation is our ‘frame’ within which we view it.

A poor frame can make any painting look bad, just like a beautiful frame can make even a mediocre picture look much better. The central principle behind reframing is that things that happen can be perceived in more than one way. Even when things happen that are universally perceived as ‘bad’, positives can flow from these, and the best leaders in society are the ones that seize the opportunity to encourage these more positive consequences to happen.

Being able to think about things in a variety of ways builds a spectrum of understanding and enables you to help others and yourself to interpret events in a range of ways, including creative and optimistic responses to the situation.

Re-framing is about looking at situations in different – and more optimistic ways. This can affect you – your perception – and alter the perception of others.

Think of an example yourself

Think of a situation that you perceive as negative. Summarize it here:

Now apply either context or content reframing to it. Write in the space below:

Talk to other people and see what examples they came up with.

Two types of reframing:

Context reframing / Content reframing
Context reframing refers to your ability to take a negative situation and make it positive in another context.
The 3M company developed an adhesive that didn’t stick very well, and so wondered how they were going to sell an adhesive that didn’t do its job!?
One researcher decided to reframe the situation, and put a little bit of the weak adhesive on the back of a piece of paper. The result? “Post It Notes”! / Content reframing is the second type of reframing. It involves changing your perception of what a situation means to you. It involves asking questions:
“What else could this mean”?
“In what way, could this be positive or a resource for me?”
Death can be perceived differently from one person to the next. For some it is the complete end; for others the start of another level or dimension of meaning.

Reframing is not about pretending that everything is wonderful. But it does encourage you to take a fresh look at situations you see as problematic and may be restricting your development.

Always ask yourself does the problem lie in the task or the way you feel about the task?

Negative feelings can bereinforced by the visual images, feelings, and ‘voices’ in our heads.

However, you have a choice about these – you don’t have to have these negative feelings. You can help to reframe the situation by:

  • Changing the picture (in your mind)
  • Changing the feeling that can be associated with things you perceive as negative
  • Changing the inner voice in your head

Changing the picture


“I dread walking into parties where I don’t know anyone. I can see myself just standing there on my own all night!
Imagine changing the frame around this scene:
“ I am looking forward to meeting some new people. I can see myself talking to some new and interesting people”. /

Changing the feeling

“Exams give me a lot of anxiety. I feel I am carrying a great weight

around inside my stomach”.

Imagine changing the frame around this scene:

“ I will imagine feeling as light as a feather in my head”.

Reframing the internal dialogue

How could you help someone move away from the following negative internal dialogues:

  1. “My essay was a disaster. I didn’t know how to use the books and didn’t know what they wanted”.
  1. “ I’m not much good in groups, as I’m quiet and don’t seem to come up with any ideas in these group situations.”
  1. “ I made a real mess of that presentation”.

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