Frames - Your Perspective Is Everything!Sample

Pessimistic Frames vs. Optimistic Frames

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Every single day we are hit with information from all sides. Over the past few years, we've heard all kinds of reports about what is happening around the world, from the pandemic, to war, to politics, to injustice, to inflation, to food shortages, and more. What frames were you looking through as you heard those reports? Your frames will determine your decisions. Some people have thrived the past few years, while others have barely survived, and some haven't made it.

I want to help you rise above the reports. In Numbers 13 Moses sent out twelve scouts to go and check out the promised land and come back with a report. When they returned forty days later ten of them shared about fortified cities and giants that would devour them. But two of them were confident that God could help them defeat any enemy. The twelve were on the same team, but they had different frames. Read today’s scripture and see what report the people went with.

Bad reports can cause you to sink and settle or rise and lead. God is calling his people to rise and lead in times like these. How do we flip our Frames from pessimistic to optimistic?

1. If God said it believe it! God told his people he had a promised land waiting for them. He had already freed them from slavery in Egypt and they miraculously crossed the Red Sea and were fed manna in the desert. Most of us reading this have seen some big miracles as well, but we still doubt when the next obstacle pops up. Remind yourself of the past miracles and believe that he can do it again!

2. God usually doesn't perform just one miracle to get us to the destination. During the process, you can get impatient at times and be tempted to put the pessimistic frames back on… but stay focused and hold onto God's promises and watch the series of miracles unfold along the journey.

3. Hang around with optimistic people! If you are always around negativity it will drag you down. On the other hand, if you are around positive people, it will pull you up. What kind of frames are your closest friends wearing? If you are always the most optimistic person in the room, you might need to find a new room.

Reframing Questions for today:

What is a situation that you looked at through pessimistic frames, and missed an opportunity?

What is something you need to reframe today to flip your frames from pessimistic to optimistic?