Reframe Your Brain: The User Interface for Happiness and Success by Scott Adams is one of the best books I’ve read so far. For those of you who don’t know, Scott Adams is the creator of the comic strip Dilbert who since has become a trained hypnotist and an author of many books on success. His latest book Reframe Your Brain is insightful, relatable, and helpful for anyone who gives it a read. So far I’m on chapter 3 of 9, with the first three chapters already altering both my perspective of the world and my perception of myself. I would encourage everyone to read this book, no matter if they’re struggling with motivation and happiness or if they’re already content with their life. I’ve learned so many reframes, and I thought I would share 5 of the best reframes that I’ve learned so far.
Before I list the 5 reframes, I’d like to explain what reframes are. Reframes are an alternate way of thinking about something in order to make it seem optimistic or more persuasive in your mind. There are numerous amounts of reframes in this book, but some work better than others for different people, and some just aren’t applicable or don’t work at all for an individual. The 5 reframes I’m sharing are only a slice of the pie that I think are most applicable for the majority of people, so I hope you can learn from these reframes and maybe even integrate them into your mindset.
Reframe 1. Wanting vs Deciding.
Usual Frame: I want to do (something).
Reframe: I have decided to do (something).
This is a way of eliminating wishful thinking and instead implementing effort and decisiveness in your lifestyle. In his book, Adams states, “I didn’t want to be a successful cartoonist; I decided to be one. If you want something, you might be willing to work hard to get it within reason. But if you decide to have something, you will do whatever it takes.” Everybody wants to be something, but they never go all out into their passion. This is because they are held back by their doubts. In our society, however, hard work and effort are often rewarded given time. Don’t be stuck on what-ifs, work towards your goal with a clear conscience and confidence that you will succeed.
Reframe 2. Boredom
Usual Frame: I am bored with life.
Reframe: I am not embarrassing myself enough.
To be successful requires risk. If you want an “easy” life, you would never ask for a job, you would never apply to harder colleges, and you would never decide to do and learn anything others are attempting to do. Most of this comes from the fear of embarrassment: being rejected at an interview or in the application process, being a beginner at something others are already proficient in. However, as Scott Adams says: “Embarrassment is not something to be avoided; Embarrassment is an investment.” Leave your ego at the door and accept the fact that you can learn more and gain more experience by taking risks others are afraid to do. This ties into the next reframe.
Reframe 3. No One Cares
Usual Frame: People judge me, so I feel bad when I mess up.
Reframe: People only care about themselves. They don’t care what dumb thing I did recently, even if they mention it.
This is a bit blunt, but it’s true. I for one can relate to worrying about other people’s perception of me. Once while giving a presentation in Spanish, I slipped up on a sentence and froze mid-sentence. When the embarrassment subsided a few days later, I realized people wouldn’t remember my slip-up as they were too preoccupied with preventing slip-ups of their own. Remember that everyone is living their own little movie, and you’re just a part of it. It’s alright if you worry about your boss’s or your friends’ perceptions of you, as these relationships are integral in your life, but strangers and even classmates’/coworkers’ perceptions of are temporary. Forgive yourself for these moments and forget.
Reframe 4. Addiction
Usual Frame: Avoid Addictions
Reframe: Choose your addictions wisely
As Adams says, humans are easily addicted by nature, but we are not addicted to the same things in the same ways. Negative addictions inhibit productivity, while positive addictions fuel it. It’s important to weigh your priorities and choose the positive addictions that will add pleasure to your productivity. Make sure these addictions are meaningful and fulfilling. Adams calls this the Pleasure Unit Theory, where humans need a certain amount of pleasure or else life is not worth living. Find addictions that give you lasting pleasure, not short-lived dopamine rushes (drugs and social media).
Reframe 5. Finding Now
Usual Frame: I am angry because something happened. OR: I am anxious.
Reframe: I am living in the past. OR: I am worrying about the future (but not in a good way).
Focus your energy on the decisions you are currently making and the decisions you have planned to make. There are too many factors that influence the outcome for you to worry about what will happen. Don’t let your anxiety inhibit your ability to make decisions and take risks. Conversely, don’t allow your past actions and decisions to haunt you. It’s harsh, but what’s done is done. This doesn’t mean to completely forget about the past, but all you can do in the present is pick your head up and continue. Most importantly, don’t others’ past actions dictate your emotions. Don’t get hung up on guilt and trauma.
I hope you learned a lot from these 5 reframes and considered implementing these into your lifestyle, maybe even considering giving this book a read. I hope it can help you as much as it’s helped me so far.