In high-pressure roles – whether you’re advising government ministers, managing complex litigation, or juggling competing demands across clients – it can sometimes feel like the only way to cope is to change your job or even the entire system.
But sometimes, the most powerful shift doesn’t require changing your circumstances. It’s about reframing how you see them.
What is reframing?
Reframing is the skill of changing the way you interpret a situation, so it becomes less stressful and more workable.
You’re not denying the facts – you’re rethinking what those facts mean.
It’s a core resilience tool in coaching and hypnotherapy, and something many of us do without realising. But when you learn to do it deliberately, it’s transformative.
Here’s why:
🔹 Meaning drives emotion.
🔹 Emotion drives behaviour.
By changing the meaning, you change how you feel – and thus how you respond.
Why reframing matters in legal work
Lawyers are trained to spot risk, test assumptions, and think critically. That can make you great problem-solvers – but also prone to black-and-white thinking, catastrophising, and over-identifying with the problem.
Reframing doesn’t mean thinking positive at all costs. It means being mentally agile – finding alternative perspectives that allow for progress, perspective, and self-compassion.
This is especially helpful when:
❌ You’re stuck in a cycle of overwork or self-criticism
❌ A team dynamic feels tense or unproductive
❌ You’re feeling undervalued, overwhelmed, or unsure how to influence change.
Practical reframes for resilience at work
Here are some real-world examples of reframing in action:
🧠 “I’m procrastinating” → “I haven’t clarified what matters most yet.”
Instead of beating yourself up, get curious: what is the most important thing to do right now?
🧠 “I’m burnt out” → “This is useful data – it’s telling me what’s not sustainable.”
The goal isn’t to ignore the signal. It’s to listen with less shame and more agency.
🧠 “They’re being difficult” → “We may have different communication styles.”
Reframing people problems as style clashes helps reduce frustration and builds empathy.
🧠 “I failed” → “I found a gap in my knowledge:that’s valuable feedback.”
This one’s classic for lawyers, who often tie self-worth to flawless performance.
How to reframe in the moment
Next time something feels stuck or heavy, try this 3-step technique:
Name the frame – What belief or story are you telling yourself?
(e.g. “I should be able to do this perfectly first time.”)
Challenge it – Is this story helpful? What’s another possible meaning?
(e.g. “This is new, so it’s reasonable to be finding my way.”)
Replace it – Choose a more empowering frame that shifts your emotional state.
(e.g. “Every time I practise this, I’m strengthening this skill.”)
It’s not about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about giving yourself a new lens – one that reduces pressure, not piles it on.
Reframing is a leadership skill
The most impactful leaders I’ve worked with – whether in government departments, law firms, or in-house roles – have one thing in common:
They model emotional flexibility.
- They catch themselves when they’re falling into rigid or unhelpful thinking.
- They help their teams reframe challenges as opportunities.
- They show that strength isn’t about always being right: it’s about staying resourceful.
You don’t necessarily need to change your job to feel better at work. But you may need to change your frame.
So next time you’re caught in a loop of stress or self-doubt, ask yourself:
“What else could this mean?”
That question alone can start to change everything.
Do you want to experience the power of reframing for yourself? I offer one-to-one hypnotherapy sessions – often just a single session plus a bespoke hypnosis recording – to help you shift stuck thinking and feel more emotionally resilient. Get in touch to find out more about how hypnotherapy can help for all sorts of issues.