Reframes

STANCE

Compassion
We bring kindness, benefit of the doubt, shared humanity, perspective-taking (theory of mind) to the person.

Humor
We see the person (or situation) with lightness, levity, and absurdity — taking the person (or situation) less seriously.

Growth (Upa Guru / the Stoics)
We bring a growth mindset (openness, curiosity, resolve) to a person or situation. Instead of seeing someone as annoying or difficult, we see them as teacher. Instead of seeing a situation as obstacle, we see it as training. In both instances: What can I learn? What skills or virtues can I practice or develop? (Growth is for situations the client can’t leave — and which aren’t abusive.)

Others Have It Harder (First World Problems)
We recognize that in the continuum of human suffering, many of our challenges are dwarfed by what others face — whether globally (hunger, war, poverty); closer to home (a neighbor’s illness, a friend’s grief); or even historically (what our ancestors endured). (This one helps the client see their suffering more clearly — without invalidating how they feel or inducing guilt.)

Cosmic (Pale Blue Dot)
We zoom out in space, finding our earthly problems minuscule within the vastness of the universe.

Temporal
We zoom out in time, recognizing that in the timeline of our life, this is just one moment; it won’t always carry this weight.