In trouble? Just reframe!
NEWSLETTER
Hey Strivers,
I was in the middle of a big presentation last week when my Google Slides suddenly stopped working.
The screen went blank, and so did my mind.
My first thought? “Why didn’t I download an offline copy? I’m not gonna know what to say now. Stupid venue with its stupid internet.”
Luckily, I’ve become a bit of an expert in dealing with tech issues.
But instead of technical expertise, I've developed mindset expertise.
I use reframing.
Here’s how it works:
Catch the Thought: Notice the negative thought as it arises. Mine was, “Why didn’t I download an offline copy? I’m not gonna know what to say now. Stupid venue with its stupid internet.”
Challenge the Thought: Ask yourself if this thought is productive or just adding to your stress. Is blaming the venue or myself going to help me in this moment?
Reframe the Thought: Replace the unhelpful or negative thought with a more constructive one. I told myself, “Tech issues happen, but I know this material inside out. Plus, everyone will be extremely impressed with how you deal with stress so elegantly.” 🤣
I could have spent a few minutes trying to get my slides back online, causing myself more stress and boring the audience, but instead, I took a breath, trusted the process... and went with the flow.
By reframing my thoughts, I shifted from panic to poise. The rest of the presentation wasn’t perfect, but I delivered my key points and kept the audience engaged.
Try this technique if you find yourself in a similar situation where things go wrong and your thinking gets negative:
- Catch the thought.
- Challenge the thought.
- Reframe the thought.
It can help you stay calm, focused, and in control.
How do you handle tech glitches or other unexpected setbacks?
I’d love to hear your tips.
Need a Quick Mindset Shift?
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Chibs
