Reframing Puts You in the Driver's Seat of Your Mind
Who is the conductor of your mind? Do you know? This article dives into how learning to challenge your thoughts directly allows you to take control of your mind and transform your actions.
Reframing thoughts is an incredibly exhausting process. We have to be on constant alert and actively engage with it because if we do not, our thoughts start to wander. And once they start, they can spiral out of control, taking us to a place where we feel overwhelmed. The mind is both our greatest asset and one of our most challenging obstacles.
It is ironic how many people assume that emotions are the primary source of our struggles. Yes, emotions are part of it, but emotions themselves do not make decisions. They are feelings, not actions. It is in how our emotions communicate with our minds that, when left unattended, can influence the decisions we make mentally. When our emotions take the wheel, we often spiral into a chain of thoughts that we cannot stop or control because we have not been taught how to.
Think of the mind as a train, and our emotions, thoughts, and feelings are like passengers onboard. Without a conductor, the train can quickly veer off track, losing control. Imagine if that conductor was not trained or did not even understand how the train works—how could they possibly steer it in the right direction? This is how many of us function when it comes to our thoughts. We have never been taught how to control our minds. We often do not even realize that controlling our thoughts is something we can learn. It is only when we actively seek help—whether through therapy, books, or podcasts—that we gain the tools to start mastering our minds.
Last year, I started reading about cognitive reframing and listening to interviews with psychologists. That is when I began to see how powerful the mind can be when we learn to take control of it. Before, I thought I had achieved inner peace through emotional regulation. But I came to realize that true inner peace came when I learned to challenge my thoughts directly. I could hear a negative or unproductive thought and simply tell myself, “No, that’s not how we’re going to see this.”
Reframing has the potential to shift our mindset in profound ways, often helping us see ourselves and our circumstances more clearly. It also highlights that we have more control than we realize over the situations we find ourselves in. When you reframe a thought, you take the power back.
Initial thought: “I don’t have time to go to the gym.” Reframed thought: “I am choosing not to prioritize working out today.”
Taking accountability for the fact that I am in control of my own time.
Initial thought: “I’m overwhelmed with work.” Reframed thought: “I need to decide what the next task is and take it one step at a time.”
Realizing that trying to focus on all the work at once doesn’t help. Instead, tackling one task at a time is a way to get to my goal.
Initial thought: “I have so many articles to write.” Reframed thought: “I will write one article at a time and then focus on the next one.”
Setting myself up for success by not allowing my mind to take me down a forecasting loop.
The beautiful part about reframing is that it opens up space for self-reflection. When you start to reframe your thoughts, you often see that you are the one responsible for the way you interpret and experience your life. Reframing shifts the narrative from one of helplessness to one of empowerment. What reframing has taught me is that while we cannot always control our thoughts or emotions, we can choose how to relate to them.
Reframing is about being the conscious dictator of your actions, not about eliminating unwanted thoughts or emotions. It is about recognizing that our thoughts are meant to be interpreted, not automatically trusted, as truth. It is about becoming the conductor of your mind, not being so afraid of leading your train (mind) that you hide behind the passengers (thoughts/feelings) within it.