If your life largely depends on the stories ( ranging from inspiring, positive, optimistic, full-of-hope, plainly factual, ruthlessly logical, pessimistic, uncertain, negative, full-of-hatred, unforgiving, imaginary to what not) you tell yourself, why is it that everyone can't tell themselves only stories that will make them happy & succeed?
Potential culprits - Conditioning & upbringing, history, genetic flaws, influence & type of company, a specific kind of intelligence - rationalism? - that cannot ignore what seems practical/true, self-sabotage, unusual priorities and ------?
Potential culprits - Conditioning & upbringing, history, genetic flaws, influence & type of company, a specific kind of intelligence - rationalism? - that cannot ignore what seems practical/true, self-sabotage, unusual priorities and ------?
11 comments:
Hello Nimmy:
Everyone has their own story to tell and this gives life a richness it would not otherwise have. How could we appreciate happiness or love if we did not have the examples of sadness and hate to show us the opposite and give us a doorway into a new future?
I have heard it said that the fastest way out of a trap is through it or that one is closest to ones glory in ones deepest dispair.
An illness or pain can also lead us to new understandings and insights and new experiences in which we are more self-reliant and responsible.
All is here for a reason. Many saints have been forged in the fires of hell.
Sometimes I think we come to this world with a specific intelligent or wisdom earned after many centuries of experiences. Oh, what are eternal beings to do but play their part in the human drama. A great actor can take on many various roles and remain his true Self.
You my friend have a beautiful soul and will know this to be true even if not consciously.
So, blame the hardships of life on what you will for life is not an exact science and we are all far too great to be confined to the definitions of science or put into neat little packages so to make it easier to have our ologies and isms.
Now I will get off my soapbox and wish you a lovely day,
Mike
:) Seems quite a bearish view... not that i blame this. it's quite easy to become demoralized, especially in this hypocrite world.
Agreed tat stories are inspiring and do give a new shade to the otherwise routine life, but i doubt if our lives are largely dependent on them. As i see it, they help to a large extent in affirming positive thoughts to ourselves. Maybe tat leads to us, looking out for stories for inspiration and optimism.
regards,
PS
Dont know if my answer is relevant to the post :). Glad if it is.
Mike,
What a mind-blowing response! *Bow* :-) I savored every word of it. Full of wisdom, to say the least.
I must thank Blogosphere for introducing me to people like you! It is here that I've found some really wonderful souls over the past many years and you are one of those whose thoughts and responses I'll always look forward to. :-)
Now, coming to my post, I think I've failed in communicating effectively. (For which I'm actually thankful because it would not have elicited such a response from you otherwise! ;-) haha)
I don't mean to say that sadness and hardships are unnecessary. I am simply saying that the way we react to what happens to us - roughly interpreted as the stories we tell ourselves when something happens to us - ought to be 'happier'. We must not tell ourselves pessimistic, negative or sad stories when we go through rough patches...we must tell ourselves positive, optimistic, happy stories and make ourselves believe that what is happening is worthwhile.
If it is true that the human mind can be trained (or even 'fooled' if one were to ignore euphemisms) into succeeding and staying happy,come what may, why not? Let me think of an example - Miraculous escapes from diseases? Some of the literature I've read indicate that most of the time, the people who have gotten rid of nearly-fatal diseases were the ones who believed they would be able to (and therefore told themselves stories on those lines rather than accept it as 'reality' and submit to it). Does that make sense or am I babbling? :-)
PS: Thanks for the encouragement and the faith, Mike. You're a great friend. You remind me of another great author-friend - Zephyr (Do check http://www.freedomsway.net and http://www.freedomswayblog.com/, you'll love it) :-)
Prashant,
Thanks so much for leaving a comment. Like I was telling Mike, I think I haven't communicated effectively. The intention of the post was perhaps neither bearish nor bullish but only an attempt to understand the truth and human behavior! :-)
If I think about my own reactions/responses to life, there are times when I've handled difficult situations by telling myself happy stories that made me believe in myself or, say, a supernatural spirit. But there are times, when I've told myself a pessimistic story and have given up before the 'end'. ;-)
When I say "the stories we tell ourselves", I primarily mean the way we react to something - which I believe determines many aspects of our life! I guess you may agree with that thought - just that my initial post seems to have been misleading! ;-)
@Nimmy: Yes Maam. There was an element of doubt on the seemingly 'bearish' outlook. Hard to imagine bearish post from bullish people like you :)
PS
Hello Nimmy:
Thank you for your kind words.
After reading you comments to me I thought of faith. Often I believe so strongly in something and it occurs in time.
I have done many healings and amazed myself. At those times my faith was so strong that I believe that I infected the other with my Light and a healing occured.
I have gotten off the healer, teacher trip and now just stick to writing as a way to express my inner knowledge and perhaps with the hope of contributing some goodness into our shared world.
To be frank, I was never confortable with having people view me as something special. I always thought that my job was to take others to their own inner strength, beauty, and wisdom, but as so many do, they were looking for gurus or someone to project their responsibility onto.
It's a pleasure to contribe to you blog. I could feel your energy and thought that you would appreciate my words and aparently, I was correct.
My kindest & warmest regards,
Mike
PS. I visited your blog recommendation. Nice blog. Thanks.
@Prashant: Thank you, PS. And please keep those comments coming! :-))
@Mike: Awesome! I am proud to have you as a blog-friend. As far as I'm concerned, the number of people who can heal others (outside of medicine) are a rare breed with a divine element in them! The people around you are so lucky.
I am inclined to go on and on and express my awe but then I also noticed that you've said you are not comfortable with people viewing you as something special! :-) So, I'll bring myself to a forced stop now.
You said "I have gotten off the healer, teacher trip and now just stick to writing as a way to express my inner knowledge and perhaps with the hope of contributing some goodness into our shared world." - Well, I am disappointed that something made you get off the "healer" track, but I am sure that you are still contributing to making this world a better place! :-)
"I always thought that my job was to take others to their own inner strength, beauty, and wisdom," - Mike, this is a quotable quote! Spot on! I am in total awe of people who can do this, for such a change is permanent! Amen!
Hope you had a great weekend! :-)
Nimmy
Hello Nimmy:
Thank you for your kind words.
You can quote me anytime as long as you give credit to the source. (:
Coming from a Land like India you are naturally accepting of such gifts. In the west, money is the god and most fall into this trap and fall from grace--sort of self-destruct because they can't break their cultural beliefs. Most of the healers I have met are common people or older Native American people who have a strong tradition of healing with herbs and with the mind and the best one, have a openness of heart. If you don't take money you are considered a coo coo bird because smart people get rich and the rest---well you can figure the logic.
My ancestors migrated from England and Scotland before America was a nation and at that time there was a strong tradition of healing they brought with them. I think I have it in both my family line and in my reincarnation line--the ability to heal & know things direct.
I do help people from time to time, but only when I know they are serious & I'm given a green light by higher powers. If they are not serious they will pull the old problem or illness back to them within a few minutes. I have seen this many times. So because I don't advertise or only proceed in a proper, respectful way, I am not so in demand and to be honest, I like my privacy and live a simple life so this internal arrangement works well for me.
Anyhow, you be well and enjoy your day,
Mike
"If you don't take money you are considered a coo coo bird because smart people get rich and the rest---well you can figure the logic." - So sad for humanity! :-|
:-) I am sure you know what is best and are doing it that way. Amen.
PS: Was away for a week and not in touch with the blog.
Nimmy
Welcome back...
Mike
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