The Reframing Approach to Getting Creatively Unstuck

Using Psychology to Reframe Your Problem

By Rick Benzel | Updated September 1, 2018

This approach to getting unstuck is based on the psychological concept of "reframing" a problem, which means learning how to change your view of the problem. Given that your reality is shaped by your thoughts and interpretations, reframing is based on the concept that you can abandon negative self-talk, replacing it with positive statements and attitudes that lead you to a more fruitful interpretation of the moment.

Consider the following situation. You have just spent a week writing a chapter of your novel, but now you're stuck. Somehow your protagonist has ended up in a position that doesn't make sense for her character. You begin to curse at yourself, upset that the last week feels like wasted time. You can't figure out how to salvage the chapter you worked so hard to write. Your mind is going blank and the goo slowly begins to ooze all over you, making you feel like an author who's been tar and feathered.

Many writers, painters, and other artists who invest large amounts of time on a project experience this type of gooey remorse. They become so invested in an idea that they find it difficult to accept when it doesn't work — and they become stuck trying to salvage the idea although they know it is taking them down an unproductive path.

This is when reframing can help. Rather than cursing yourself and viewing the experience as "wasted time" or as proof that "I lack talent" (both of which are nothing but thoughts you place in your own mind), why not reframe the experience in a way that inspires your creative juices instead of draining them? You might say to yourself, "This plot twist is a great one; let me save it for another character later in this book." Or you could think, "Wow, what a great idea for another story." Or perhaps you can tell yourself something as mild as, "Well, I guess I know my character better now. I'll rewrite this chapter and learn from the experience."

Reframing is an extremely valuable tool for artists who feel frustrated and stuck at the beginnings of projects. If you believe you are going nowhere, it often indicates that your inner critic is halting you from trying out ideas because you fear making a mistake. It can be useful to reframe your early work entirely, viewing whatever you do in the context of "This is a good start for my project and I can always come back and revisit it," rather than thinking, "I don't think this is the 'right' start for this book (painting, song, etc.) so I'm not going anywhere until I can get it right."

It is always useful to remember that you can alter your thoughts about many situations. You can feel angry, frustrated, tired, upset with yourself — or you can transform your feelings into patience, understanding, and self-respect for the efforts you make.

Next: The Marcel Proust Approach

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This collection of insights for successful creating is based on Inspiring Creativity: Powerful Insights and Practical Ideas to Guide You to Successful Creating and published with permission.