Reframes
I’m learning about the concept of Reframes from reading Scott Adam’s new book, “Reframe the Brain.” Reframes are powerful phrases or one-liners that can trick your brain into thinking a certain way — hopefully more positively. Adams gives many examples of reframes, but the first example he mentions is the line “alcohol is poison.” He says these words aloud whenever he thinks about having a drink. He’s tricked his brain into actually believing that drinking alcohol would be akin to drinking poison. Why would he ever drink poison?
Reframes don’t necessarily have to be true, they just have to be believable enough for you to change your actions slightly. Reframes can shift our perception of reality. They offer us a fresh perspective, one that empowers us to see things in a different light and potentially change our actions, our habits, and, ultimately, our lives.
Since starting to read the book, I’ve been more attuned to noticing reframes in my own life, and I recently stumbled upon one that I found interesting. I was watching Instagram reels, and I saw a video of someone cooking healthy food that consisted of delicious-looking meats and vegetables, and there was a voiceover that said: “Doesn’t it seem so strange that our society eats so much junk food that eating real food is considered dieting?”
This reframe is compelling. When you choose to eat healthily, you're simply embracing natural, wholesome foods and avoiding the processed, fried, and sugary alternatives. Consuming real food isn't "dieting" but rather a return to a more traditional, natural way of eating that existed long before the influx of junk food. Our indulgence in junk food is a recent anomaly—existing for just about a century—a relatively short period of time. I’ve been eating healthy food for several months, and this reframe has made it even easier to lock in the idea that eating healthy is not a temporary phase or a restrictive diet but rather a return to natural, foundational habits.
It's interesting how such simple shifts in language can carry profound implications. Just as the phrase "alcohol is poison" can change one's relationship with drinking, the idea that eating real food is the default (and not a form of dieting) can transform our relationship with food and our own health.
Reframes offer us a mechanism to regain control over our mindset and can help us make better decisions. Try to find reframes in your own life. See if they can offer you a fresh lens to view your world. Sometimes, a simple shift in perspective can lead to the most profound transformations. The most significant revelations come not from changing the world around us but by changing the way we see it.