ONE Easy Step to Stay Cool Under Pressure

Back in 1993, Cypress Hill released a song titled “Insane in the Brain.” I loved the beat and jammed to the tune every time it came on the radio.

As I got older, that song would pop into my head when I was struggling with my eating habits — I felt “insane in the membrane,” as the song says — with all the internal sparring that would ensue inside my mind over exercise, calories, body image, and weight.

Tying my worth to my physical state of fitness was so damaging to my well-being and ability to think clearly — I really felt insane in my brain at times!

As I learned the skills for understanding the “voices” in my head I found myself returning to the lyrics of that song. One of the tools I heard about was called Reframing.

 Reframing:

• Is a simple shift in your perception. When faced with overwhelming thoughts or stressors, you will no longer allow them to control you.

• Allows you to instantly move through a potentially debilitating moment into one that’s fueled by insight, clarity, and positive motivation.

• Helps you decide how you will handle inevitable situations that can derail you from your goals and create stress.

• Is a simple process of choosing a new way to see something. When you change your perception you change how your body responds to it.

• Reframing by refocusing your perception of situations is a potent tool for establishing a NEW way of being.

Your go-to negative thoughts, words, and reactions can be neutralized from their nerve-wracking effects and you can begin to break the cycle of destructive patterns that keep you stuck in chronic stress.

As I learned about this I remember singing out, “Reframe in the Membrane! Reframe in the Brain!”

Dorky, I know. But it made the daunting task of changing my whole way of thinking more fun.

I was able to shift from perpetually destructive and judgmental to loving, supportive, and healthy. It was an astounding shift — and so freeing!

Identifying how you are reacting to any given stressful or destructive situation then choosing a healthier way of responding and dealing with it is the most powerful way to become the adaptable, healthy, happy individual you long to become.

Ask yourself these 3 questions when faced with a “roadblock” or as I call them “goal-blocks:”

Can I change the situation?

Can I leave the situation?

Can I change myself to fit or adapt to the situation?

While the first two questions may often be answered with a “no,” the third question will always yield a “yes!” Here’s your ticket to stress freedom.

Your perception of life is your reality. You have the power to change your mind. All you have to do is choose to see a “terrible” situation for the opportunity that it really is.

These 3 questions open the door for personal growth, enlightenment, humility, reconciliation, or self-discovery… the options for how each moment can teach us to be more mindful, loving, lighthearted, and gracious are endless.

Ask them every time you find your self in a situation where you feel stressed and powerless — eventually you’ll notice you no longer find yourself in these circumstances because you don’t even perceive them that way anymore.

Your vision will be attuned to find the opportunity in everything you experience. What a transformation that will be!