“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for…. In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologist the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the coloring, sportsmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.” —“The Beauties of Nature,” by John Lubbock
As you continue your healing journey, you likely will stumble across some narratives — stories you tell about yourself — that hold you back. You are much greater than you realize, but to see and live your greatness, you will need to look past the old limiting narratives that are weighing you down.
I once met a man who told me he was “just plain stubborn.” This got him into all kinds of trouble: When he was “just plain stubborn” at work, his supervisor thought he was insubordinate, and when he was “just plain stubborn” at home, his spouse thought he was rigid and unyielding.
When I got to know him, I discovered that he wasn’t stubborn; he was principled. He was determined. No one realized this about him because he had told them he was “just plain stubborn,” so anytime he stood up for what he felt was right, everyone thought, “Uh-oh, here he goes again” and tuned him out.
His process of healing meant learning and living a new story for his life, in which he stands up for important principles, but with a twist — he now also focuses on respecting how other people feel. Living this new narrative put an end to his boss’s talk of insubordination and his spouse’s concern about rigidity.
Identifying a problematic or toxic narrative is hard to do on your own, because it just isn’t possible for you to see yourself with “fresh eyes.” When you are trapped in a toxic narrative, you are flooded with feelings of guilt and inadequacy as you rehash the same old negative thoughts about yourself over and over. It is hard to get traction when you are weighed down by these terrible feelings.
Rewriting your narrative is empowering and liberating. Finding new words that describe who you are and that honor the good you are doing, have done, or hope to do leads to a life full of happy energy and positive self-esteem. As you progress, you will find yourself experiencing gratitude, forgiveness, trust, self acceptance, and self-love.
The starting point in narrative therapy is what you believe about yourself right now. That means telling your story to the therapist, but with a difference. This time, you are talking to someone who intentionally chooses not to believe you.
“I’m a failure at my job.” Oh really?
“My marriage is awful and it’s all my fault.” Hmm.
“My kids are all messed up. I’m a terrible parent.” <quizzical look>
"This gets at the heart of the matter: There are many ways to see yourself and tell your story. If you’ve fallen into a toxic narrative, you can re-write it."
To use John Lubbock’s images, when you describe your life, it might sound like a field full of untamed weeds growing every which way. The narrative therapist will hear and see something different — a lovely prairie, wild and free, or a beautiful meadow, lush with growth.
“But that’s not true,” you might be tempted to say, “I really am a mess/failure/loser/[insert judgmental word here].” To which the therapist responds, “Oh really? And this is the only possible way to look at you and your situation?”
Toxic narratives start when a voice in your head points to a few problematic details and shouts, “Guilty, guilty, GUILTY!” The narrative therapist responds, “Not so fast. There is other evidence to consider.” The therapist’s skepticism is based on the undeniable reality that there is no one single way to view a situation. When we go through your story we very likely will find that there are other ways to see it.
This gets at the heart of the matter: There are many ways to see yourself and tell your story. If you’ve fallen into a toxic narrative, you can re-write it.
Developing a new narrative can open up vistas you’ve not seen before. But it takes strength and determination to anchor the new story, because toxic narratives can be persistent. As the saying goes, if it was a long walk into the woods, then it might take a bit to find your way out.
Just know this: Whatever situation you are dealing with, the way you see it is not the only possible view. There are other ways to see it. Healing is possible in any situation. It, and you, can get better.
By Thomas Wood
Original article can be found HERE.