Problems don´t exist in the world, but in our minds 

A problem exists in our mind, as an interpretation of our situation or our experience. Problems come into existence through negative thinking about our situation and our experiences. A problem is seeing a situation or an experience in the light of what is wrong and bad about it. 

An issue thought about as a problem perpetuates the issue as a problem.

Reframing a problem into a heart-opening takes only three simple steps. But beware: this process may have far-reaching consequences for how you see yourself and the world, and for how you live your life!

Step 1: Describe something you see as a problem, using pen and paper, or share with a friend. Use this form: ´It is a problem for me that .... because .... ´

Make sure that in describing the situation, you remain as factual and objective as possible, not mixing in your judgments.

Also make sure you are clear about WHY you consider this particular state of affairs a problem. This may take some serious exploration into understanding what is REALLY the problem for you in this.

Step 2: Take some time to feel into your body while asking yourself what longing or longings (deep needs) are not met by this state of affairs. Then change the sentence above so that the situation is described in this way:
´The situation, which is that .... , triggers my longing for .... ´

Make sure that in describing the situation, you remain as factual and objective as possible, not mixing in your judgments. 

By 'longings' here we mean longings of the heart; in other words INNER QUALITIES, and not something physical or outer. Some examples of words pointing to longings are: love, freedom, trust, strength, joy, peace, connection, creativity, unity, value, existence, being myself, truth.

Step 3: Drop your thoughts about the situation, focusing only on the longing. Use the sentence ´I long for .... ´ Allow yourself to feel deeply into your longing, while allowing all feelings and thoughts that arise as a consequence of this, without trying to change anything.


Longings in disguise

We can easily reframe our problems into possibilities when we realise that problems are longings in disguise.

A problem is a negative description of how we experience something. A longing, in contrast, is a positive quality of the heart that we are, for the moment, not in touch with. By acknowledging our longing, we automatically start reconnecting with the quality we long for - which is always available, in our heart, here and now. At a deeper level, we are what we seek.

Let us take an example. Let's say I am in a situation that I describe in this way to myself and/or to others: "I feel sad and empty, my life is meaningless, and I hate being in this state, I want to feel good".

This is my sitation described as a problem.

I can reframe this situation - see it in a different way, and thus experience it differently - by describing it positively, in terms of what I long for. In the example above, this could look like this: "I feel sad and empty, and I long for meaning, for inspiration, and for self-love."

By allowing myself to feel my feelings and sink into my longings, I will experience how my heart - mysteriously, but very naturally - opens into the qualities I long for.

Feeling into our longings

If we reframe our 'problems' in this way, and genuinely feel into the feelings and longings expressed (rather than just say the words without going into the experience of them), we will open into a powerful dimension of ourselves.

Every challenging issue can either be described as a problem or as a longing. By describing our challenges as longings, we open the door to present-moment body experience. This provides an opening into essence (into being, into a quality of the heart), and to release, transformation and the experience of new possibilities.

As we feel into our longing, new 'problems' may arise (for example, a block to feeling deeper into our experience, the arising of too many distracting thougts, etc.). Then we simply reframe these 'problems' in the same way, as longings, which again open us into the realm of essence, release and transformation.

Reframing as a way of living

Our life can be lived in this way, as a continues practice of using each situation and experience as a doorway into essence, and as opportunities for release, transformation and new possibilities.

The obstacle is the path. Everything we experience is a possibility to meet ourselves at a deeper level. Nothing needs to be discarded, nothing needs to be fought against, pushed away, rejected. Everything can be welcomed - and when we welcome it, it transforms, and we transform with it.

We are, most of us, strongly conditioned to interpret experiences and situations in terms of what is not good and right about them. Therefore a continuous focus on reframing is necessary for most of us if we want to live in connection with ourselves, and not get lost in the limiting and painful perspective of seeing challenging situations and experiences as problems.