The Art of Framing—Mar. 16

SAGe (Self-Actualized Genius)—Learn More

March 16, 2025

Sunday SAGe Newsletter Volume 26: The Art of Framing

Happy Sunday!

Here is this week’s installment of Sunday SAGe, an email communication that shares wellness inspiration from The Wellness Ethic to help people thrive during the coming week (and beyond!).

This week, our topic is the art of framing, which is the process of developing a healthy perspective toward challenging situations. A life-affirming attitude positions you to move forward in your life with positive energy.

The Art of Framing

An excerpt from The Wellness Ethic:

The art of framing starts with understanding that your experiences have no inherent meaning. They are neither good nor bad. Experiences are blank canvases devoid of sense until you add form, texture, and color to make them consequential. This empowers you to frame whatever happens to you in a productive light. You choose your reality by how you perceive your situation. Effective framing slams the door on negative perceptions in favor of a productive perspective that serves you. Like a vampire, negativity can appear at your door, but its destructive power is only unleashed if you invite it in.

What It Means

There is a two-step process—get underneath the truth and create a productive frame—that you can use to frame what happens in your life to help you choose the best response.

The first step—get underneath the truth—challenges you to sort through the noise to expose the essence of what has happened, not necessarily what you wish had happened. Ask yourself these questions to see if the truth emerges:

• What objectively happened, and why did it occur (root cause)?

• What was my contribution to the situation?

• What was in my control? What was out of my control?

• What did others contribute to what occurred?

• How would the most loving, nonjudgmental version of myself—my SAGe—want me to feel about what happened?

By understanding the truth, your framing and responding efforts become grounded in reality. You avoid setting unrealistic expectations or chasing after red herrings. You align yourself to serve the true needs that emerged from what transpired, whether it’s the need to repair a relationship, address a health issue, give someone constructive feedback, or even focus on your own growth.

The second step—create a productive frame—inspires you to nurture a positive mindset that interprets what has happened through a life-affirming lens. You bring out the best within you—your values, optimism, and love—and allow those virtues to shape how you perceive your circumstances so you can move forward with positive energy. Here are examples of positive and negative frames:

REJECTED AFTER INTERVIEWING FOR A JOB

• Positive Frame: Although I didn’t get the job, I got to practice interviewing. I learned about my strengths and development needs, and I’ll apply what I learned moving forward. Sometimes it’s a numbers game. I am talented. I will find the right job!

• Negative Frame: I’m not talented enough when I compare myself to other applicants. There are hundreds of people applying for each job. It’s impossible. I’ll never get the job I want.

Your Call to Action

Identify a situation in your life that is challenging you, whether it’s related to a job, a relationship, your health, or something else. Apply a life-affirming frame to your circumstances and let that guide you as you choose your best path forward.

Have a positive week!