The Seven Minute Reframe with Mona Patel
- KristinaLibby
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
A creative life is a constant process of learning to reframe information, ideas and challenges in order to continue to keep going, creating and learning. Expert Mona Patel held a workshop with the Cohort, where she shared ideas for how to consistently incorporate reframing into your life. Her process is relatively straightforward. A person shares their problem in a two-minute description, the group reflects on ideas for how that person might reframe their challenge, and then the person responds.
What struck me most about the reflection process is the framing for the group-based reflections: participants use the phrases "I wonder" and "what if"—essentially, words of imagination. This approach fosters a curious and open-ended mindset. These prompts act as cognitive tools to bypass habitual thought patterns, enabling the exploration of new possibilities and innovative solutions.
Here are scenarios where you could use this same technique.
Use "what if" and "I wonder" to shift the way you perceive a challenge.
What if...
...the problem wasn’t as big as it seems?
...I approached this as a learning opportunity?
...I focused on what I can control rather than what I can’t?
...I asked the people affected what they really need?
I wonder...
...what part of this challenge excites me?
...how others have solved similar problems?
...what assumptions I’m making that could be wrong?
...if breaking the problem into smaller pieces would help?
Spark creativity by imagining entirely new contexts or circumstances.
What if...
...this challenge happened in a different industry or era?
...I solved this in a way no one else has tried before?
...this were part of a movie—how would the characters solve it?
...nature had a solution to this problem?
I wonder...
...what my favorite artist, scientist, or writer would think of this?
...how this problem would look if I were a child?
...what the solution would look like if it were effortless?
...what future technology might solve this issue?
Project into the future to explore long-term possibilities or implications.
What if...
...this problem didn’t matter in 10 years?
...the solution created a ripple effect of positive change?
...I invested in a solution that works not just for today but for decades?
...this were part of a bigger system—how would it fit in?
I wonder...
...what impact this solution could have beyond its original intent?
...how future generations would solve this?
...how technology could evolve to make this problem obsolete?
...what I would say to someone working on this in 50 years?
Does this method change how you think about your creative challenge or problem?
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