Objective reframing is replacing a subjective/erroneous belief with an objective/more realistic perspective to change your response to a situation.
In our critical feedback example:
The old framing ”the manager attacked me” is replaced with the new one – “the manager helped me.”
My response changed from getting offended to being constructive.
We are not merely rationalizing, inventing fake reasons to feel better about a situation. Replacing one subjective fallacy with another.
“Maybe the manager simply had a bad day, so I forgive him.”
But the fig leaf of rationalization does not change what I really think about this. So rationalizing will not be able to withstand the test of a real-life event. Old framing will still be managing my responses.
Objective reframing is based on a deeper, better understanding. You clear your perception from subjective judgments, misconceptions, and biases. Such objective reappraisal is possible when you really step back from a situation. Reduce the impact of your habitual egocentric views.
This is why practices like empathy and compassion are important. You train your mind to see things from a wider set of perspectives, adopt a systems outlook. Eventually, the grip of your misconceptions, exaggerated likes, and dislikes, subsides. You are able to remain truly centered (not “self”-centered), and assess all perspectives objectively, achieve wisdom.
Reframing cycle
You start by noticing a response or belief you want to change. Mindfulness helps you recognize mental phenomena and label them. After you name the reaction, you can investigate its causes.
Usually, it is a web of connected beliefs, past experiences, and reaction habits. Reframing is a process of improving your understanding of each of these causes. You learn about each cause and find a new, objective perspective.
Then, you apply the new framing – look at the situation, human being, and yourself from a new perspective until you experience the desired response. Analyze and explain new views to your mind repeatedly. Try to feel, experience the new response. Until both sink in.
A successful reframing usually produces a distinct experience of closure. You feel release, the contrasting state of mind, free from the previous tension.
Changes integration
The real-life situations will still be testing the new framing. Monitor your reactions and use Emotional Hygiene so residual reactions do not reverse the results of reframing.
If you are mindful and practice the new responses, they become natural. Old reactions no longer arise in the contexts that triggered them before. You are free to choose a response and engage constructively.