[Ailist] Reframing vs denial

[Mike Sands]

One part of my training asked us to take the approach that any human behavior  - including the experience of an emotion  - has at its base a desire for the good of the owner.  It then suggested conducting an inquiry into what the desired outcome of the behaviour is.  I have been led through this approach and led others through it and found it to be very helpful - ie I could start out "under the influence" of some fairly negative emotion and end up - in only several mintures feeling energetic, capable and optimisitic.

The idea makes sense to me - a negative experience or emotion tells me to stop doing what it was that was causing the negative emotion.  Now I don't always know what the "cause" is  - but  I find the guided inquiry - usually guided by a guide who helps me conjure thoughts of desired outcomes and feeling states  - works very well. I am sure that the interest and other supportive behaviours of the guide (coach) are part of the mood improvement.

One "delivery system" for this approach is explained in the book  Core Transformation by Connirae Andreas.  I have known about this approach for about 6 years - and it actully forms part of my background knowledge that helps and informs me in pursuing many of the life enhancing inquiry processes.

Mike




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ros and Cranleigh Lee" <c.r.lee at xtra.co.nz>
To: <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:43 AM
Subject: [Ailist] Reframing vs denial


Hi all

As a personal coach who has touched only on the very basic principles of AI,
I am increasingly interested in their application to the individual.

I have just been discussing with a friend the role of "negative" or painful
emotions and experiences in growing us as people and to what extent we
should welcome and examine these emotions rather than overcome them or
distract our attention from them.  When does reframing a problem or a past
experience become denial?  Do these types of emotion have any place in the
context of Appreciative Living/Coaching?

Thanks
Ros Lee
www.mindyourthinking.com


"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power
to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
Viktor Frankl
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