Reframing Negativity Without Denial: A Tool for Public Safety Professionals
- CMPS Staff
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Learn science-backed strategies to reframe negativity in public safety work. Explore how mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal help professionals manage stress, build resilience, and respond constructively to challenges.
Excerpts of Fleet Maull, PhD are from the Mindfulness-Based Work Readiness Course.
In public safety work, challenges are inherent to the job. Whether you’re responding to emergencies, supporting victims, or navigating the pressures of organizational life, stress and negativity are unavoidable. The question is not whether we’ll encounter difficulty—but how we respond to it.
Many in law enforcement, corrections, EMS, fire service, and other frontline roles are taught to “push through” or “tough it out.” While resilience and grit are strengths, research indicates that suppressing negative emotions often has unintended consequences. It can lead to greater anxiety, burnout, and disconnection from both ourselves and others.
The alternative isn’t denial or forced positivity. It’s reframing: acknowledging difficulty while shifting how we interpret and respond to it.
What Reframing Looks Like on the Job
As Fleet Maull, PhD, explains in CMPS training:
“We might hear ourselves saying, ‘I hate this, I can’t stand this, I don’t want to deal with this.’ Instead, we can reframe it: ‘This is challenging. It’s tough, but I have the resources to deal with it.’”
This is not about minimizing the situation or pretending it isn’t serious. It’s about moving from a reactive mindset to a responsive one. By reframing, we create space to make healthier choices in high-pressure situations.
Why Suppression Doesn’t Work
Studies consistently show that emotional suppression makes things worse:
Suppression often increases stress and negative feelings in the moment, instead of reducing them (BMC Psychology).
Over time, habitual suppression is linked to poorer social functioning and emotional disconnection (NIH/PMC)
In public safety, this can show up as increased irritability, strained team relationships, and even long-term health consequences.
The Science of Reframing: Cognitive Reappraisal
Reframing aligns with what psychologists call cognitive reappraisal—rethinking a situation to change its emotional impact.
Research shows that reappraisal is one of the most effective emotion regulation strategies:
It buffers the effects of stress and anxiety, even in high-pressure contexts like the COVID-19 pandemic (NIH/PMC).
A meta-analysis confirmed that reappraisal enhances resilience and reduces the harmful effects of stress (PubMed).
Compared to suppression, reappraisal leads to lower negative emotions and higher positive emotions in response to stress (NIH/PMC).
For public safety professionals, this means reframing can help maintain calm under pressure, improve interactions with the public, and prevent job stress from following you home.
How to Reframe Without Denying Reality
Pause and Breathe
Use a quick reset—such as belly breathing, grounding in your feet, or simply taking a mindful pause—before reacting.
Acknowledge the Stressor
Say inwardly: “This is difficult. This is stressful.” Recognition prevents denial and builds honesty.
Name the Need Beneath the Feeling
As Fleet Maull, PhD, teaches: “I’m angry because my need for respect isn’t being met.” Naming the need shifts focus from blame to understanding.
Choose a Constructive Frame
Instead of “This is impossible,” try: “This is tough, but I’ve handled tough before.”
Stay Flexible
Sometimes reappraisal works best; other times, simple acceptance is enough. Both strategies reduce the risk of getting stuck in negativity.
Why It Matters for Public Safety
Reframing negativity doesn’t just improve individual well-being—it strengthens teams and communities. When officers, EMTs, dispatchers, and others can manage stress effectively, they:
Make clearer decisions under pressure
Reduce unnecessary conflict and escalation
Preserve their health and resilience over time
Build public trust through calmer, more grounded interactions
As Fleet Maull, PhD, emphasizes:
“The key is not to be trapped by old strategies or reactive patterns. The goal is to consciously decide: What’s the most creative and healthy way I can respond right now?”
At CMPS, we train public safety professionals in mindfulness and resilience practices that honor the reality of the work while offering practical, science-backed strategies for thriving in it.
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