Be the storyteller, not the story

Time to let the stories go. There are times we all have all have held onto a story. Ever heard, I have forgiven but will never forget? It comes with a negative story of what happened ten years ago. Maybe it is the first time or the tenth time that you have heard it. All it means is you have not let it go at all and the energy of the pain is still within.

Negative feelings, when not dealt with properly, only stay and grow in strength and cause havoc in our lives. As we tell the story over and over, it adds more fuel to the fire, and it becomes increasingly difficult to stay objective.

The thing is, it only hurts you, not the other person. The other person probably doesn’t even know that it bothers you. Did you even have a conversation about it with the other person?

Not only does it hurt you now, but it becomes part of your future story. Someone has an abusive father and then tends to pick abusive men to be part of their life. They then prove to themselves that all men are abusive. It is dangerous to use the words never, always, and all when we express our feelings.

“All men are abusive.” You always act condescending. “You never do what I want.” The more you say comments like that, the more you believe they are true. Not all men are abusive—as a matter of fact, most are not. Does someone else NEVER do what you want? REALLY? If that is true, why stay?

The deep wounds these stories create will happen again and again until we finally deal with them. They continue to be part of our identity and limit us. It is Screaming Mimi who won’t let them go.

You cannot live an abundant life with the old records playing over and over again. How painful this can be; but that is what Screaming Mimi is great at: causing pain and suffering. The good news is we can change. We can become the storytellers.

We need to examine our stories and emotions that we repeatedly get caught up in. Work at getting to the root cause behind your stories. Why did you react the way you did? What was happening at the time? What has happened in your childhood that might of triggered your reaction?

This leads back to one of the ways I plan to save the world: taking responsibility. You are not a drug addict because of your father. That is the story you identified with.

Tell this story instead: “Yes, I had an abusive father and his actions taught me what not to be.” When you identify with the story, you pass the responsibility onto someone else and have pronounced your fate. When you become the storyteller, you claim you destiny.

Ever hear the expression, take the bull by his horns? Well, I think that is the key. Your choice. Claim your destiny or let the stories do it for you.

Thank you for your time. Have a beautiful rest of your week.