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The single most important attribute in cultivating happiness and success in your life is your ability to create positive reframes.

A positive reframe is taking a situation and trying to find something good in it. It’s incredibly simple in theory, but it can be very difficult to practice.

Two people can have the same exact experience but walk away from it with a completely different perspective and interpretation of the facts. This is the power of reframing.

This article shares 30 positive reframes when it comes to both yourself and others. It takes a characteristic that is usually seen as “negative” and then twists it to make it more “positive.”

Interestingly, a new study has discovered that reframing a negative personality trait can lead to positive results.

For example, individuals who were told that their “impulsivity” was a sign of “creativity,” ended up performing better on creative tasks than individuals who weren’t told this. This shows how looking at our personality traits in a new way can lead to new behaviors.

Try to think of the list below as a resource to help you think more positively. It won’t make you a master of positive reframes, but it is a great starting point to get you thinking in a different direction.



Negative Frame → Positive Frame

Argumentative → Truth-seeking

Bossy → Good director / Natural leader

Clingy → Affectionate

Compulsive → Efficient / Attention to detail

Conceited → Confident / Values self

Crabby → Communicates needs

Dawdles → Easy-going

Defiant → Strong beliefs / Courageous

Demanding → Assertive

Dependent → Connected

Doodles → Creative

Dramatic → Emotionally aware / Expressive

Fearful → Thoughtful / Careful

Foolish → Fun loving

Fussy → Specific tastes / Strong sense of self

Goofy → Joyful / Entertaining

Impulsive → Spontaneous

Loud → Exuberant / Confident

Manipulative → Gets own needs met

Mean → Power-seeking

Messy → Open-minded / Easy-going

Mouthy → Expressive / Has strong opinions

Naughty → Independent / Exploring boundaries

Nosey → Curious / Inquisitive

Quiet → Thoughtful / Reflective

Rigid → Organized / Knows what they want

Shy → Introspective / Respectful of boundaries

Silly → Good sense of humor

Stubborn → Determined / Persistent

Talkative → Good communicator / Expressive

Wants Attention → Speaks out needs



These are just suggestions on how you can turn a perceived “negative” into a “positive reframe.”

Hopefully, reading through this list gives you some ideas on the types of things you can reframe in your daily life. The possibilities are endless, but you have to first be open to a more positive perspective.

Keep in mind, looking at life through a positive reframe doesn’t mean you ignore the stress, pain, and suffering in life, but it does help you deal with these problems more efficiently by seeing them in a different light.

The better you are at viewing life through a positive reframe, the more happiness and success you’ll find.



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