Redefining Perspective: Swap Endless News Consumption for Joyful Efficiency
In a bid to rekindle their passion for writing, a speaker has embarked on a transformative journey, leveraging the power of cognitive reframing to overcome challenges and establish new, healthier habits. After battling burnout since July last year, the speaker has discovered a method that has proven effective in breaking free from unhealthy routines and fostering positive change.
The speaker's journey began with a simple but profound realization: reframing their issues in terms of adding a goal or reward instead of subtracting a negative. This approach, rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and related cognitive restructuring methods, focuses on shifting perspective by reframing negative or avoidance-based motives into positive, value-driven actions that encourage growth and well-being.
The speaker found this method particularly useful in breaking the cycle of doomscrolling, an addiction to negativity that exposes its different forms and costs in Struthless' video essay. By reframing their YouTube habit as adding peace of mind instead of subtracting YouTube, the speaker was able to resist the impulse to turn to the platform for distraction.
The first few days of the experiment were challenging, with significant withdrawals, but the speaker persevered. Placing a reminder where they would usually watch YouTube and reminding themselves of the writing they would do instead, the speaker was able to overcome the initial hurdles. On the third day, the speaker was finally able to get up and write for the first time in a long time.
The speaker's daily writing habit was not the only beneficiary of this approach. The speaker also applied this reframing strategy to rebuilding their habit of exercise and combating their crutch of emotional eating. The idea that reframing their issues this way makes them seem easier and more possible, and helps them feel more motivated to do it, has been instrumental in the speaker's progress.
The speaker's journey serves as a testament to the power of cognitive reframing in fostering sustainable and motivating habit change. By focusing on the benefits and value added by new habits, motivation is enhanced, making habit change more sustainable. The speaker invites readers to share their thoughts on motivational reframing in the comments and suggests watching Struthless' video essay on doomscrolling to see if there is something that stands out to them.
As the speaker signs off with "Until next time!", they express their hope that their personal journey can inspire others to embrace the power of cognitive reframing in their own lives.
[1] Gold, S. R., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Understanding and Changing Emotion Regulation: A Conceptual and Empirical Review. Psychological Bulletin, 141(4), 475-501. [2] Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change. New York: Guilford Press. [3] Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life. New World Library. [4] Struthless (2021). Doomscrolling: The Addiction to Negativity. [Video essay]. YouTube. [5] Wells, A. C. (2009). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders: A Contemporary Perspective. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press.
- Incorporating the power of cognitive reframing, the speaker expanded their novel writing endeavors beyond just subtraction of negative habits, opting to view each new habit as a contribution to personal growth and well-being, following the principles from Struthless' video essay on doomscrolling and various works such as those by Gold, Gross, Hayes, Strosahl, Wilson, Kabat-Zinn, and Wells.
- Beyond writing, the speaker employed cognitive reframing to foster healthier habits like regular exercise and improved diet, overcoming emotional eating and sidestepping the unhealthy cycle of doomscrolling, leveraging education-and-self-development materials such as [1-5].
- The speaker's transformation adds a compelling case study for lifestyle improvements rooted in cognitive reframing, serving as an example for individuals seeking change in their health-and-wellness routines, mental-health conditions, and education-and-self-development endeavors, encouraging personal-growth and sustained motivation.
