Are there adversities in your life causing stress, sorrow, or frustration? Do you feel weighed down by the burdens of daily struggles? If so, you’re not alone—but you do have a powerful tool at your disposal: positive reframing.
Positive reframing is a powerful mind-management technique that allows you to reinterpret negative situations in a more empowering light. It doesn't mean denying pain or struggle—but instead, choosing to see hidden blessings, opportunities, and lessons within life’s difficulties. In doing so, we reclaim our inner peace and joy.
A Daughter's Wisdom: The Birth of Gratitude in Adversity
A story beautifully illustrates this principle. A mother, overwhelmed by her daily responsibilities—taxes to pay, meals to cook, a home to clean, and a party to plan—was spiralling into stress. Then she noticed her young daughter diligently working on her homework.
"What are you doing, beti?" she asked.
"I'm doing negative Thanksgiving, Mama," the daughter replied.
“Negative Thanksgiving? What’s that?”
“My teacher asked us to find things in our life that seem negative, but for which we can still be thankful.”
"I'm doing negative Thanksgiving, Mama," the daughter replied.
“Negative Thanksgiving? What’s that?”
“My teacher asked us to find things in our life that seem negative, but for which we can still be thankful.”
Curious, the mother looked at her daughter’s notebook. The child had written:
“I’m thankful for my final exams... because it means summer vacation is near.”
“I’m thankful for my parents’ scoldings... because it shows they care and want me to grow.”
“I’m thankful for the bitter medicine I have to take... because it means I’m going to get better.”
“I’m thankful for my parents’ scoldings... because it shows they care and want me to grow.”
“I’m thankful for the bitter medicine I have to take... because it means I’m going to get better.”
The depth of this perspective struck the mother. Inspired, she began her own list:
“I’m thankful for the taxes I pay... because it means I have an income while many are unemployed.”
“I’m thankful for cleaning the house... because it means I have a shelter.”
“I’m thankful for cooking... because it means I have a family to care for.”
“I’m thankful for cleaning after the party... because it means I have friends.”
“I’m thankful for cleaning the house... because it means I have a shelter.”
“I’m thankful for cooking... because it means I have a family to care for.”
“I’m thankful for cleaning after the party... because it means I have friends.”
This mother and daughter had both discovered the transformative power of positive reframing—a mindset shift that turns burdens into blessings.
The Science and Spirituality Behind Reframing
Our minds are wired to focus on what’s wrong. Psychologists refer to this as the negativity bias, where we tend to notice problems over positives disproportionately. Inattention to blessings—what ancient texts refer to as inattentional blindness—can cause us to overlook the grace that surrounds us every day.
In Vedic philosophy, sacred texts are referred to as Darshan Shastras, which translates to “instruments of vision.” They don’t just teach—they help us see. See the divine presence in everything. See life through the lens of truth, not just emotion.
As the Isha Upanishad beautifully puts it:
“ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्।”
"All that moves in this universe is pervaded by the Divine."
But the question is—do we see it that way?
There’s a scene from the classic comedy The Three Stooges that mirrors this. One stooge says, “I can’t see, I can’t see!” The other asks, “Why not?” He replies, “Because my eyes are closed.” A gentle tap later, he opens his eyes and exclaims, “Oh! Now I can see!”
So often, our vision is similarly clouded—not by closed eyes, but by a closed mind.
Real-Life Inspiration: Anthony Ray Hinton
The story of Anthony Ray Hinton is a testament to the power of reframing one's perspective. Wrongly convicted of a crime, he spent 30 years on death row in a tiny cell. For the first three years, he was miserable. But then, he made a choice: to find joy, despite his surroundings.
He began inspiring fellow inmates and remained hopeful throughout his time in prison. When the U.S. Supreme Court finally exonerated him, a reporter asked, “Aren’t you angry about what happened?”
His response was extraordinary:
“Whatever falls from the heavens can only be auspicious.”
He added, “If I stay unhappy, they still have me in prison.”
“Whatever falls from the heavens can only be auspicious.”
He added, “If I stay unhappy, they still have me in prison.”
Hinton’s mother had taught him not to chase money, but joy.
“I have only $3.50 in my pocket,” he said, “but this is the happiest day of my life.”
“I have only $3.50 in my pocket,” he said, “but this is the happiest day of my life.”
Nelson Mandela: Turning Prison into a University
Another profound example is Nelson Mandela. Imprisoned for 27 years—18 of them on Robben Island—Mandela endured hard labour, blinding sunlight, and isolation. Yet, he transformed prison into a place of learning. He mentored other inmates, urging them, “Each one, teach one.”
When released, he was asked how he dealt with the bitterness.
His answer?
“There was no bitterness. I was learning through it all.”
His answer?
“There was no bitterness. I was learning through it all.”
Mandela didn’t choose his suffering, but he chose his response to it.
Seeing the Same Situation Differently
As Swami Mukundananda writes in The Art and Science of Happiness:
“You can see the same situation in different ways. One person feels scorched by the heat, another enjoys the sunshine. One sees arrogance, the other sees confidence. These are just different realities of the same situation. Misery is the consequence of viewing life through the lens of negativity and discontentment. In contrast, positive reframing is the art of finding the silver lining in any situation and then focusing upon it.”
This is the essence of positive reframing.
Your Turn: Reframe Your Life
Are there challenges in your life right now? Bills, conflict, stress, failure, rejection?
Pause. Reflect.
Pause. Reflect.
Can you look at them differently?
Maybe that financial pressure is pushing you to be more resourceful. That failure is guiding you to a better path. That solitude is an opportunity for deeper self-connection.
Reframing doesn’t need a key to unlock happiness. It simply needs a new perspective.
Final Thought
This universe is not against you. It is a benevolent force, quietly working in your favour—even when life feels difficult.
Choose to believe in its goodness. Choose to shift your lens. Choose to reframe.
Because when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change.
Choose to believe in its goodness. Choose to shift your lens. Choose to reframe.
Because when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Drawn from timeless Vedic wisdom and real-life stories of resilience, The Art and Science of Happiness offers practical tools to transform your perspective and lead a more mindful, joyful life.
Available now on Amazon.
Available now on Amazon.
