Coping Skill of the Week: “What If” Reframing (“...YACHT”)

When uncertainty hits, one of the first things the brain does is flood us with “what if” questions. What if I lose everything? What if this doesn’t work out? What if I embarrass myself? These questions are the brain’s way of trying to prepare, but instead of making us feel ready, they usually keep us stuck in loops of fear. The nervous system cannot tell the difference between imagined danger and real danger, so every “what if” lands like a blow.

“What If” Reframing shifts the direction of those questions. Instead of letting your imagination run only toward catastrophe, you widen the frame. You remind yourself that the unknown also carries the possibility of something good. What if this actually works? What if help shows up? What if it turns out better than I imagined?

One of my favorite playful reminders for this is “…what if it’s a yacht?" (... 🛥️ ) Because sometimes the thing we fear will sink us is actually the thing that carries us somewhere unexpected and wonderful. And the word YACHT becomes its own cue: You Also Could Have Thought… You also could have thought something more hopeful, more balanced, more open. That is the heart of reframing.

From a neuroscience perspective, this is powerful. The brain has a built-in negativity bias, designed to keep us alert to risk. In ancient times, that helped us survive. Today, it often leaves us overestimating threats and underestimating resilience. By consciously practicing YACHT thinking, you train your brain to build new pathways, ones that support flexibility and optimism. Over time, this strengthens Psychological Capital, especially the reserves of hope and resilience that help us endure the unknown.

When you try this, notice your body. Often your breath deepens, your muscles release a little tension, and the mind softens its grip. This is your nervous system recalibrating. You are showing it that uncertainty does not have to equal catastrophe. It can also hold surprise, growth, and possibility.

“What If” Reframing is not about ignoring risk or pretending everything will be perfect. It is about remembering that every “what if” has a second side. You always have more than one thought available to you. You Also Could Have Thought… something different. Something lighter. Something that gives you enough space to take the next step with steadiness.

The unknown is still there, but now it is big enough to hold more than fear. It might even hold a yacht.