“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around.” - Terry Pratchett
The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives in powerful ways. Our narratives about who we are and our place in the world dictate our life experiences; not necessarily what happens to us, but how we interpret events, our roles in what unfolded and what future may lie ahead for us.
These stories are not merely thought up by our minds, but originate deep in our psyche, often before verbal reasoning and symbolic thinking evolved in the developing prefrontal cortex of the brain. Deeply embedded in our unconscious are archetypal patterns and laws of Nature which shape the stories we tell; and which are reinforced by cultural norms and narratives passed on from one generation to the next. Stories reveal the unconscious foundations of our worldviews and provide a revealing looking glass to the inner dynamics of human nature as well every aspect of human thought and behaviour. Patterns shape our thinking and, while we may think we are telling a story, it may be the story that is telling us.
From the earliest oral traditions to social media platforms, humans have always told stories to share and interpret life experiences. People build and communicate their identities, relationships, and cultures through the stories they tell. Stories document personal narratives, history and evolving cultural norms. Stories entertain, teach, preserve, and instil cultural and moral values.
Unrecognised and untold stories drive us, repeating patterns of behavior without our understanding why we behave, think, or feel a certain way. It is only through engaging directly and creatively with our stories that genuine transformation is possible - which is the value of analytical work, the ‘talking cure’. Confronting assumptions based on our belief and value systems is the only path to real growth. Recognizing and working with the stories of your own life, including those inherited from your parents and ancestors, will help you discover new insights and perspectives. This will help to heal from imprisoning stories, allowing you to live a truer story based on your authentic unique voice.
Written for @jungsouthernafrica
Image credit: Dramatis Personae by Qistina Khalidah
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