Asset-Framing

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“A small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.” – Stendal

My mom came over yesterday with a newspaper for me because she had an extra copy. It’s been a long time since I’ve beheld an entire printed newspaper. As much as I like the news, skimming the headlines about Ukranian refugees, discord in the state legislature, the approach of 6 million deaths worldwide from COVID reminded me of something I’d heard researcher Brené Brown say. She said her therapist once told her something like, “Brené, in the time we have together each week I can’t undo the damage you do to yourself listening to the news.”

It also reminded me of an On Being podcast I heard recently where Krista Tippett interviewed CEO and Visionary Trabien Shorters. Trabien has identified our need to redefine the way we look at the world. Instead of continuing our habit of seeing problems and defining people in need in terms of their problems, a worldview he calls deficit-framing, he calls us to practice asset-framing. As Krista said in the podcast, “it works with both cutting-edge understandings of the brain and an age-old understanding of the real-world power of the words we use, the stories we tell, the way we name things and people. “

And in Trabian’s own words, he says asset-framing is “It is defining people by their aspirations and contributions, before you get to their challenges. So whatever is going on in someone’s life, you don’t ignore it, but you don’t define them by the worst moment or the worst experience or the worst potential; none of that. You have to look past their faults, to see who they really are. 

And specific to the news, Trabian and Krista talked us through an example of how the news leads us to deficit frame, to see things and particularly marginalized communities by the problems. In the original lede of the story, there isn’t anything very hopeful:

“The Latinx community in the United States has always been, for the most part, on the bottom half on income, in the American society. The struggle to have access to health and mental care is part of the history; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has come to intensify the problems.”

But the revised lede that Trabian and his team helped write started like this:

“Since 2014, Latinx people have constituted the largest ethnic group in the nation’s largest state. They now represent 39 percent of the California population.” And then it goes on to talk about “in recent years Latinx residents have made advances in economic well-being measured by metrics like reduced poverty rates, growth in business ownership.” And then after a couple of sentences like that, people elected to school boards, local offices. “Despite this impressive social and economic progress, Latinx residents have lagged behind other Californians in achieving important goals like home ownership and income growth, and we can now add to that list the disproportionate harm visited on the community by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Listening to that example, I realize how much how the news is presented matters to our perception. It also makes me appreciate this Word Press Community even more because as the war in Ukraine has ramped up, I’ve seen so many posts that highlight the hope of how to get through it like Jane Fritz did with her post on Robby Robin’s journey yesterday.

A couple of weeks ago my 6-year-old daughter look at the news on the tv and said, “The Queen is dead.” And I had her read the banner again which said, “The Queen has tested positive for Covid-19.” The news is important, but a lot of it is how we read it!

(featured photo from Pexels)

24 thoughts on “Asset-Framing”

  1. Such an important topic, Wynne. Keeping up with the news is emotionally draining, for sure, but we can’t be responsible citizens of the world without it. A continual balancing act. I love your young daughter’s immediate response to the news about the Queen. She’s an aware little girl, regardless of the misinterpretation. (Thanks for the shoutout.)

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  2. I certainly agree that we need to be selective about what we choose to read or listen to. There is, however, the need to balance what is difficult to know with what is essential to know.

    While I find it possible to do this for myself most of the time, it is a widespread challenge. I would also recommend separating speculative opinion from what is actually happening. This will reduce the consumption of “hair on fire” material predicting all possible disasters.

    In effect, we are in a situation requiring the individual invention of information acquisition strategies, an area of study for which no adult received training. I can reframe this by saying I find the challenge a stimulating oppportunity — but I also know others may not be as optimistic or prepared for the task as I am, and may be pressed for time in a way I am not.

    Thank you for the provocative PST, Wynne.

    Liked by 3 people

    2. What a delightfully clarifying comment, Dr. Stein. I like your recommendation to separate speculative opinion from what is actually happening. It is a great challenge as you say. And yet to face it and find out what is difficult to know, what is essential to know and create an informed personal response is part of what I think is our responsibility as citizens of this world.

      Thanks for weighing in on this topic!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I think it was Cheech or Chong who said, “Taking responsibility is heavy responsibility!”

        Seriously, though, I agree with you!

        Liked by 2 people

  3. With news at our disposal, 24 hours a day, it’s a balancing act to stay informed without damaging our emotions by continual consumption. Thank you for this post, Wynne. It’s an important topic.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. I try to filter my news sources, removing the opinionated, editorialized, and inflammatory ones for they present a slanted world view. Unfortunately, journalism has devolved into this sphere, but it is still possible to find the more objective and fact-oriented pieces, usually put out by Reuters and Public Radio or newspapers.

    As a person of Ukrainian descent, my heart is with the Ukrainians. I try to share informative pieces, especially the ones which offer hope and which are uplifting. We DO need to filter through all we see, and if all we have to offer is sharing the more positive, hopeful pieces, already that is doing something powerful!

    I was one of those people using Google maps to post reviews on Russian restaurant sites. I chose to post a more positive review, for I realize that even though the Russian government controls the news and much of the media leaving citizens woefully uninformed about what is happening, they have been unwilling pawns as well.

    In a world where hatred and unkindness are having a heyday, being loving, kind, positive and hopeful is a wonderfully needed counterpoint!

    Blessings!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I love the idea that you blogged about with the 5 star reviews. So creative! I think you have done a wonderful job sharing positive, hopeful pieces, as always, Tamara! Thank you for being loving, kind, positive and hopeful and spreading that to all that you touch! ❤

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  7. It’s a balancing act, indeed, to stay informed about important and vital issues affecting our lives and livelihoods and not become overwhelmed by it all. A total disconnect from emotionally troubling news, as Brené Brown’s therapist once suggested, would in my mind lead to a life of denial and false sense of security.

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  8. Using the news judiciously is one thing, believing everything printed or on TV is another. Getting sucked into the belief system that everything one reads or sees is fact is dangerous, but we know that happens and the results often have far reaching consequences in society.

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    1. Oh my goodness, we have seen too much of that belief system in the last 2 years. It is so perplexing to me but I know that it takes work to sort through all the information we are presented to find what is verifiably true. I like how you put it – we need to use the news judiciously!

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  9. Thank you for this lovely and positive post, Wynne!

    I’ve never heard of the phrase asset framing before but the concept seems so awesome and pragmatic to me. I love it!

    I agree with you that the news these days seems very negative. I have to remind myself that news, at the end of the day, is a business. In the world of a 24/7/365 news cycle, it’s about getting clicks and views and unfortunately, humans are geared and conditions generally towards the negative news.

    I’m glad there is a movement to reframe how things are presented to the world. We need more of this. We need this change! 🙏🙏🙏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I find your comment so interesting. Yes, it’s a business and it is wired to make us click on the negative – that puts it perspective. But I agree – it would be great if we could reframe everything or at least move in that direction!

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