Day 6 activity
Listening back to the story, I'd like to share a final reflection. One of the most difficult things to grapple with in allowing my story to change and evolve is the sense of justice. The moral high ground of right versus wrong, just versus unjust, respect versus disrespect. Growing up, I remember feeling slighted, as if I was treated unfairly. Holding on to my story and keeping it frozen in the way that I tell it used to give me the feeling that I was holding the high ground. It used to feel like I was exposing the injustice, the disrespect and in doing so, exacting what I was owed. In the end, holding onto these stories, in the way that I used to, kept me a prisoner to them; I was reliving the same injustice, the same disrespect and suffering from the inflated sense of mistreatment. Being able to admit vulnerability, humbly adapt and edit my version of events, and use a larger perspective to narrate my experiences has proven to be liberating. The openness and freedom I've gained from learning to let go a little and allowing some fluidity to enter the schema has given me access to a wholly different way of living my life. I still get caught up in the old meanings from time to time, but it doesn't last that long. It evolves more quickly, more easily. I feel less rigid and less encumbered by the meanings I've imposed on people and events. I get a chance to live more presently, more connected and more authentically. The trick isn't to get rid of the old feelings. They will always be there. The trick is to not let that be the only thing we have in our emotional toolkit. With effort, practice and support, we can add some other tools like acknowledgment, balanced perspectives, understanding the meaning behind our triggers, self-acceptance as well as recognizing and questioning our needs, values and beliefs. All of these can be used to create a more fluid, flexible and genuine life story that honors your path instead of condemning it.
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Day 6 activity
