May 11, 2026 • 10 min read

Cognitive Reframing: Changing How You See Situations

Change how you interpret events to change your emotional response.

Cognitive reframing from CBT: change interpretations, change emotional responses. The same event can produce wildly different feelings based on how it's interpreted.

The Interpretation Game

Events don't cause emotions—interpretations do. Two people face identical situations, one devastated, one unbothered. The difference is interpretation.

Change interpretation, change emotional response.

Reframing Tools

• Evidence examination: What supports this interpretation?
• Alternative views: What else could this mean?
• Perspective shift: What would I tell a friend?
• Long view: Will this matter in 5 years?

Interpretations are choices. Choose wisely.