STOP THE NARRATIVE

We humans are storytellers. Little stories. . . “Yeah, they had this great sale at...” Big stories. . . “I’m pregnant!” Sweet stories. . . “We got a new puppy!” Scary stories. . . “Looks like Ida made landfall...” We share stories whenever we talk, text or transmit info to others be they family, friends, coworkers, colleagues or even complete strangers. (Think: social media)

Further, we each have our own “life story”. . . our cumulative and accumulating personal narrative complete with our very own custom experiences of agony, ecstasy and everything in between.

When I call it our “personal narrative” I mean personal! It’s the meta-script we repeat in our heads all day (and night) long--WHAT WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT OURSELVES--upon which we base our sense of identity, meaning and purpose. Powerful stuff! It includes the good, bad, and yes, ugly self-talk going on incessantly in our heads. Actually, our minds are just doing what we've taught them to do--what they do best--piecing disparate things together into a framework out of which we make sense of life. And in real time! They do it unconsciously. Without being asked, and more importantly; without asking for permission. 

Which is why it’s so important that we stop the narrative. At least, some of the time.

To be more specific, just because we have a personal narrative, it doesn’t mean it’s healthy. (Got any bad habits, blues or baggage?) And like our bodies, our minds need down time, need to rest as deeply and completely as possible. Further, our meta-narratives act like black holes, i.e. our most powerful, overarching narrative either incorporates or consumes all our smaller stories. (Star Trek’s Borg: "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated!") And worse, in sum or part they can take on a life of their own--insofar as we believe them--believe they define our reality! 

If these aren’t reasons enough to regularly review and reset our personal narratives, we also have collective narratives (in our families, groups, organizations, even whole nations), some of which are extremely dangerous and destructive. Just read or listen to the latest news update. 

Fortunately, fortunately, fortunately. . . we get to choose. 

We get to choose how to perceive, interpret and respond to what happens to us every day, every minute, every moment. Doing so, however, requires one thing: consciousness. To be conscious of our personal narrative is to stop and step out of it (or any part) so that at least momentarily, we are not the participant. We are the observer, the witness, and the actor from without. Here, from this always-available vantage point, we can see and alter it. (This, I believe, is the essence of all Jesus's parables.)

There’s just one catch: We have to think in order to do so. So please...

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT OUR PERSONAL NARRATIVES.