Frames II

Hi Everyone

Here is part two of the frames topic. We continue to discover the different types of frames.

Frames

Cause and Effect Frame

Allows consideration of the relationship between what you are doing and the result you are getting. If we adopt the mental filter of looking at how something we do causes an effect, we are getting near real time feedback about how we are influencing the world. If our action is not getting us to where we want to go then we must change our approach.

Possibility / Necessity Frame

The possibility / necessity frame is a ‘sense making filter’. Here we look at each part of a problem and see if it is something that creates a possibility or if it is a necessity. Eg In the race to the moon in the 1960s there was a possibility of getting a man to the moon much earlier than 1969, but the necessity was to return them to Earth.

Open Frame

The open frame provides an opportunity for anyone to raise any comments or questions about the material that interests them.

Control Frame

A control Frame sets a limit on the scope or time of an activity.

Relevancy Frame

The relevancy frame can be used to determine how a specific statement or behaviour is helping to achieve an agreed outcome i.e. is it relevant?

Out Frame

A frame that excludes possible objections.

Action Step

Look for opportunities to make use of some of the frames outlined above.

Until Next Time when we will talk about Reframing

Nevin

Happiness

Hi Everyone

Happiness. It seems to be something that we are all seeking or are interested in maintaining if we have already achieved it.

I have spent a large part of my career helping people manage mental illnesses. When asked what do they really want,  there are some usually superficial items, then some more deeper goals and finally what they really want is to be happy.

The Purpose of this site is to provide you with understandings of your self and your behaviours such that you can then choose to apply the many techniques from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, personal growth and development to improving and sustaining your level of happiness and success.

We will look at self awareness, personality, temperament, other factors. We will look at many techniques to help develop happiness and sustain it .

In my field, being happy is seen as an absence of pathology, so I will talk to about psychopathology that may impact on your ability to achieve what you want in your life. However happiness is more than the absence of pathology. We will explore many factors within ourselves and techniques to improve both ourselves and our environment in pursuit of our goals, being happy and being successful.

Self-awareness

Temperament

Personality

Signature Strengths

Breadth of Perspective

Identity

Purpose

What You Liked in Your Life Exercise

Vision and possibility

Mission

Personal Values

Values and Belief Systems

Roles Rigid, self-defining roles

Goals Wants and desires, Preferences, The “Availability heuristic”

Needs

Unclear identity

Life Scripts

How we talk to ourselves

• Self Talk
• Thinking Styles
• Cognitive Errors

Explanatory Style – The 3 Ps

ABCDEs of Successful Mind Management

How we Talk to Others

Beliefs and Assumptions Nothing better to do

How to Change Them

Unhelpful Behaviours Addictions, Compulsions, Emotional damage, Triggers, Mental Illness

Tradition and status quo

Permission & motivation

Capabilities and Skills

Behavior (Maps & models, strategies, Direction & choice, Specific behaviors, Actions & reactions)

Environment (External context, Opportunities & Constraint)

Ignorance  Fears

Pleasure and Pain

Procrastination

Rewards and incentives

Resources, tools

Supports

Upbringing and family

Models and examples

Support structures

Family

Friends

Accountability Partners

Mastermind alliances

Professionals

Lifestyle

Living environment

Work environment

Happiness

Past

Present

Future

Anchoring Happiness

Frames

Hi Everyone.

I am now going to discuss the topic of frames. We will learn about 13 different types of frames and the process of reframing as it applies to improving and sustaining happiness in our lives.

Frames

A frame defines and describes the boundaries of an event or experience.

It can be considered one of the ways we filter perceptions of the world based on our internal representations. They usually operate outside of conscious awareness, are habitual and automatic. They come from the beliefs we have.

We use frames to attatch meaning to an event.

We also talk about time frames eg a short time frame to achieve a task. This is perceived as more stressful than a long timeframe but is associated with more focus and motivation.

Types of Frames

Outcome Frame

Focuses on what you do want, not what you don’t want, focuses attention on achieving solutions rather than on what is not working.

Within the outcome frame not only do you look at the outcome, but at the effects of achieving the outcome –  both positive and negative, and the resources you require to reach the Outcome. Outcomes should be set for all your activities because if you haven’t then someone else may enrol you to help them in theirs.

Clearly defined outcomes provide you with a context for making decisions and assessing your behaviours. When there are no clearly defined outcomes,  accomplishment can be limited, ,you can  take on too much, get overwhelmed and not be able to achieve your desired level of happiness and success.

Outcome frames are the opposite of a problem frames. Problem frames are focused on what is wrong or needs to be fixed rather than what is sought after.

Ecology Frame

This frame checks what impact any change will have on all parts of the system to which you belong.

If you pursue an outcome without thinking about the impact on other parts of the system (e.g., body systems, family, work environment, community), then you are not working in an ecology frame. Eg for an outcome that you have at work, what is the effect on your co-workers? Are there any negative effects on you customers? Is your outcome congruent with other outcomes or plans that you have?

Evidence frame

Evidence is important in developing well formed outcomes. The aim is to ground everything in reality. By having sensory specific evidence you know when you have achieved your outcomes.

The evidence frame is part of the outcome frame. It is useful to consider it separately.

Ask yourself how will you know when you have achieved your outcome? What will you see, hear, feel or experience?

The evidence frame is a gauge to assess your progress towards your outcome.It enables you to know when you have achieved your outcome.By measuring the evidence you will know if you should take corrective action or modify outcomes or even set new ones.

As- If Frame

There are many applications for the As-If frame. It is based on acting ‘as if’’ a desired state or outcome has been achieved. It can also be ‘as if’ someone else is giving you information:

When negotiating or problem solving, you can explore other possibilities by saying, “Let’s proceed as if I agree to this demand or take your proposed course of action. What would you do for me, or what would happen as a result?”

If a key person is missing from a meeting, you may say, “Let’s act as if Sue is present. What would she suggest?”

For project planning, you may wish act as if the project has been successfully completed and then ask what steps were necessary to reach this outcome. This approach may highlight some important information that is not obvious when planning from the present.

For modeling an expert, you may choose to act as if you are that person (put yourself into second position) to gain further insights as to their thoughts and behaviours.

As-If Thinking involves thinking about something as if it has occured. “What would it be like if…”.

Contrast Frame

The contrast frame is used to seek the difference that makes a difference. If you are considering what you are doing in a certain situation ask yourself ‘How is this different from the current situation?’ or ask ‘What is the alternative?  These create choices which can be further evaluated.

Agreement Frame

In meetings or negotiations it is better to find points of agreement and build from there.

Ask yourself and others present what it is that is agreed upon. It may seem obvious but if your not sure you can bet that others are not sure either. It helps to clarify.

Backtrack Frame

You can use this frame to check agreement and understanding during and at the conclusion of a meeting. You can  update a new arrival at a meeting or restart a discussion. Backtracking requires reviewing available information and  using keywords and tonality of those who brought the information forward.

Backtracking ensures everyone has the same understanding of what was discussed and decided and helps to maintain direction towards the desired outcome.

Thats it for today, as always have a fantastic day.

Nevin

States and Emotions II

Hi Everyone

Today we continue with the concept of states.

We create our states through our perceptions and memories, we can change them through our behaviours.

Try the exercises below.

Creating States

We create states by the way we perceive the external events in the world.

We vary in the way we perceive, interpret and react to different events and that makes a difference to which state we end up in. Some of us get upset by very small events while others cope with disasters as if they were nothing.

Changing States

Being able to manage a state is important because if you are in the right state for a situation then you are more likely to achieve your outcomes.

Some of us use drugs, alcohol, sex, food, shopping to change our states. They are short term solutions and can have disastrous consequences.

The best way to alter states is to change the way you think about things.

Try this

Think of a memory where you are mildly uncomfortable say 3 or 4 on a 1-10 scale. (10 is the most uncomfortable)

Associate into it, feel it in your body, now hold onto this feeling while you jog on the spot or hop around on one foot. Most people find this hard to keep the uncomfortable feeling. (You may also try the Seagull and Jackhammer exercise)

Now break the state by counting slowly up to 10.

Now think of a calm place, a place where you are happy, where there is nothing going on. You may use the place from the guided visualisations. Now try to hold on to the calm feeling while you increase your breathing rate and bring your breath high into your chest.

Break state.

This is also known as exaggerating the mistake and shows that you do have control over your states and how quick and easy it is to change them.

Remember that many emotions especially negative ones are signals to action, that something in your life needs attention, there is a positive intent behind them. Once we experience the emotion, understand it then we can take action on it.

Elicitation

This is a technique for helping some one else move from one state to another.

The easiest way is to get them to recall a time when they felt the way they want to feel in a specific situation. For example if you need to feel confident then remember a time you did feel confident and associate to it now.

Remember a time when you felt relaxed and fully associate to it. When working with someone it helps if you model that state yourself.

Have fun and see you next time

Nevin

Unclear Identity

My mother said to me, “If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general; if you become a monk, you’ll end up as the Pope.” Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso. Pablo Picasso

Unclear identity

Symptom: One is overly influenced by external events or influential people, a.k.a. ‘anchoring.’

Synonyms: Doormat, low self-esteem, chameleon, co-dependent, low self-worth, spineless.

It’s not unusual – or necessarily bad — for people to not know who they are; you can still be happy.

A therapist can usually help if the unclear identify is psychological problem or source.

Identity

Purpose

Vision

Mission

Values

Roles

Goals