Story
In all of my explorations into self, it always…always, comes back to story. The stories we are told, become the stories we tell ourselves, become the stories we tell others. The narrative lodges itself deep within us and before we even have the chance to realize, the teller and the listener get all mixed up … lines blurring between fiction and nonfiction. Truth and lie.
When I trace the lines back to the white puritanical systems that are deeply imbedded in so many of us and start to examine the parts of that story that I hold, I find guilt and shame. These are old stories – so old, I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t have them mixed in my motivation for behaving a certain way or saying a certain thing. These stories are fabricated to keep us down – to mute and separate. It is literally impossible to generate unity consciousness and be cloaked in shame and guilt at the same time. These thematic tales have greatly affected the course of my life. They have kept me quiet and afraid. They have caused me to question my worth and allow plenty of space for doubt and fear.
We hold onto our stories. Even when they do not serve us or anyone around us. We cling to them because without them, who are we? I have held onto beliefs that weren’t mine, simply because I was scared to know what was on the other side, the side where I let go. The thing is, it is time – perhaps quite overdue. The story needs to be rewritten. Right now – more than ever before, the narrative is changing right before our eyes. And it’s brutal. It takes courage. It takes YOU standing up to your mind. It takes getting so quiet with yourself that you want to crawl out of your skin. It takes tears and endless observation, questioning. It takes breathing light into the darkness.
My friend recently shared a message her mom, Terrie, sent her – Primitive societies live by the Rule of Might, and the strong prevail. Advanced societies live by the Rule of Law, and the privileged prevail. Enlightened societies live by the Rule of Love, and everyone is lifted higher.
Our stories shackle us to separateness – to a belief that we are only safe in the confines of our destructive beliefs. They criminalize some and crucify others. They place some on pedestals and push the faces of others into the dirt. If we want to move away from these beliefs – and we must - It begins with a willingness – awareness. So many of us are wanting to know what we can do to help. There are many things to do and I highly recommend doing them. It starts with willingness to identify your patterns and triggers and beliefs. It starts with allowing yourself to settle into an understanding that you can tell a new story. It starts with healing. Please, please, please…do the work.