When you think of the word, “frame,” what do you think about?
Framing on walls usually hold one photo or a collage or a painting…one theme or thought. It is limited in content, right? It can only hold so much inside.
When I first got sober, my sponsor used to say, “Heidi, expand your frame” She was saying this for me to look outside the way I have always seen things inside my frame of reference and try to frame it differently. For example: include other people in my consideration process.
I like to look at it visually, like the borders of a frame on the wall expanding out to include more within the box. The inside of a frame continues to be limited, expanding the frame allows for new thoughts, new ideas, new actions as responses to old habits or behaviors, to be included in my consideration. Looking from a different angle, broaden the scope of my possibilities for action.
Framing also refers to the way we present or perceive information. It shapes our understanding and influences our reactions to various situations.The way an issue is framed can change how we view it. For example, How we frame decisions can impact our willingness to act. Positive framing can motivate us and negative framing can keep us stuck
This takes courage.
I thought all that I was doing was working. Well, apparently not, or I wouldn’t be needing to “expand my frame”
My old frame looked like this:
"I did not think that I would be able to live my life without alcohol."
In THE PROMISES of AA it says that, “...We won’t forget the past nor wish to shut the door on it.” For me the context of my past experience, including the poor decisions and failures can ultimately lead me to better framing for future decisions.
Growth is hard and requires a little pain, a little patience, and a LOT of reliance on God.
My new frame looks like this:
I CAN be sober and still have fun.
I CAN go to a party and not drink
I CAN live this life sober with clear thoughts and actions.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26
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