Creating the Narrative

Bringing Order to Disorder

This past Saturday, I started one of my yoga classes talking about the narratives we create. Each of us, uniquely crafting and weaving our own personal stories. Our brains are doing it all the time. 

Even if we attended the exact same event? Our versions of that experience would be as different as we are. 

Lately, I’ve been digging around this concept. If we tell ourselves a story to make sense, to organize, to create meaning . . . then it MUST matter what stories we tell ourselves, Right? 🤷🏻‍♀️

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“Remember something about attention.
Yes, it’s possible to buy, grab, or even steal it.
But it’s far better to earn it.”

~ Baratunde Thurston

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Hello friends!

When I read the Baratunde Thurston quotation up above, it ignited a spark. 

The stories we tell to others, and to ourselves, help create meaning, and order, and shape our identities. 

Our stories can connect us to others through shared experiences, and our stories can separate us by exposing perceived differences. 

So, it’s important to observe our own narratives. 

We are participants in creating our reality, because we have real power in deciding what meaning we attach to our own stories. 

We are telling ourselves a story. 
And attaching meaning to it. 

So, what is worth earning our attention? 

Fact: negative incidents and moments sure do like to dominate. At times, it seems the frustrating situation will try and hijack everything else that happened in a day!

But, that’s our own thinking. 
And while our thinking shapes our reality, our thoughts are just that. Our thoughts. 

We can shift those thoughts, and it’s simple to get started. 

When the mind is chattering away, take a moment to pause. 
Observe what it's saying. 
Notice it. And then watch those thoughts float on by, like big puffy clouds. 
Then, see what comes in next. 
As if you are observing your own thought bubbles emerging.  

Don’t get too attached to any one thought. 
Notice anything that’s on heavy rotation. 
Pay attention to the tone, the word choice, the energy of the thoughts. 

If there’s something dark, or unsettling, or harsh, or critical dominating the scene, observe it. Thank it for showing up. And let it drift on by. 

Then, invite in compassion. 
And gratitude. 
Allowing yourself to soften into a different narrative groove. 

This week? 
As I listen to my own internal narrative, I’m going to see what’s worth earning my attention, and keep moving in that direction. 

Full of love and light,

~m