When enthusing a client to change their current perspective to a more powerful one, we call this “re-framing”. If one were a master at re-framing their own perspective they could ensure they were always performing at their peak and prevent themselves from finding excuses to stop taking action.

Other things one might need to obtain complete happiness and fulfillment are clear goals and a reason for wanting to achieve them. Getting a client to imagine what their life would be like when they achieve their goals could be used to motivate them into taking action.

Five questions you could ask to help someone re-frame or shift their perspective are:

1. What’s the worst that can happen if you take action?

2. What’s the worst that can happen if you do not take action?

3. Who do you know that has overcome a situation similar to this?

4. If you had a friend/loved one who was in a similar situation to this, what would you advise them to do?

5. What are the good things about your current situation?

Helping clients to change their perspective can make a big difference in their lives as sometimes people only focus on the negative aspect of a situation. By changing their perspective, a client can be helped to see a positive outcome and remove the limits they have placed upon themselves.

I can remember experiencing a change in perspective the first time I had to give a 50 minute presentation in front of my class at University. On the morning of the presentation I kept worrying about what would happen if I messed up, forgot what I was saying or sounded like I didn’t know what I was talking about! As it goes, the presentation went very well and I was told by several classmates that they really enjoyed it and some even asked for copies of my slides and notes to help them revise the subject. After that, my perspective changed. No longer did I give time to the “what if” scenarios, I had a positive reference of when I did a great presentation and the feeling of that day is what I anchor myself to every time I am required to do any public speaking. My perspective of public speaking is now excitement as opposed to fear.