How you frame a situation matters

How we frame a situation can either enhance its value or diminish it.

Framing can be taken both literally and figuratively. Literally, framing is an essential part of the presentation process for many artists and galleries. A chosen frame can affect the overall aesthetics and value of an art piece.

In terms of aesthetic, framing allows a viewer to see the whole picture rather than just focusing on certain parts. It directs attention to the artwork itself and makes it more powerful and immersive. Sometimes framing can even increase the value of an artwork, especially when it comes to period picture frames. It’s interesting how a seemingly inconspicuous item can have such a great impact.

Figuratively, framing can help us define a situation and decide how we’re going to deal with it.

Take Airbnb for example.

When the lodging industry was hit the hardest by COVID-19, co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky responded with, “This is our defining moment.” He added that great companies are forged in moments of crisis, and it was their chance to show that they weren’t just another fleeting internet fad. Chesky’s response was to frame a negative situation as an opportunity by rethinking the new normal of travel. Today, Airbnb has almost rebounded and even completed its IPO.

You see, there are thousands of ways to interpret a situation that is dealt to you. Choose the frame of reference that will serve your growth as a human being. Ask different questions. The person who thinks of the first narrative has the power to rewrite it.

We are the stories we tell ourselves. ●