Reframing Can Break Through What’s Blocking You!

Is there something you really want to get done… but no matter how many times it goes on your to-do list, it just doesn’t happen?

Here’s something that might surprise you:

The problem might not be the task itself—it might be the way you’re talking to yourself about it.

When we describe something as hard, unpleasant, overwhelming, or pointless, our brains take that as truth. But when we shift the language—just slightly—we shift the energy, too.

Here are some examples:

✦ From “Filing” to “Creating Calm”

One Clarity Connection member shared how overwhelmed she felt by her growing pile of paperwork. The word “filing” made her think of dreary tasks and office drudgery. But once she reframed it as “creating calm,” her mindset shifted. She pictured the peace of knowing exactly where her important papers lived. Now she spends 10 minutes a day “creating calm,” and her desk and brain are much clearer.

✦ From “Saving Kids’ Clothes” to “Preserving Memories”

A FB group member wrote a beautiful reflection on why she had kept so many of her teens’ baby clothes. She realized she was keeping them as mementos for herself, not her kids. So she reframed the project: instead of just storing them indefinately, she turned it into a quilt-making plan. She cut squares from her favorite tees and dresses, and happily let go of the rest—reducing two overflowing bins down to two tidy boxes ready for her sewing machine. That mental shift helped her finally let go and move forward.

✦ From “Working Out” to “Dancing”

I’ve used reframing myself. I used to dread the idea of working out. But when I started calling it “movement,” I realized I actually liked going to Zumba. I wasn’t exercising—I was dancing! That small change in vocabulary took away the guilt and brought back the joy.

✦ From “Organizing” to “Sorting”

If the word “organize” feels like too much, reframe it as simply “sorting.” Sorting is something even a child can do, and it’s often the first step in making real change. Whether it’s paper, pantry, or clothes, a short sorting session can help you gain clarity fast.

You get to choose the words you use. And words have power.

If you’ve been stuck in resistance mode, see what happens when you reframe the way you talk about the thing you want to do.

Give yourself permission to drop the guilt, ditch the pressure, and find a friendlier way forward. You might be surprised how much easier it feels to get started, and how much progress you make.