The Super-Power of Mindfulness - 5

Intro to Super-Power of Mindfulness series: https://lnkd.in/ep4mCEm8

Most of the stories that we create about our identities have been shaped by the perceptions of our relatives, educators, and significant others. The more regular the feedback, the more ineffaceable the story. As we move through teenage years into adulthood, these personal narratives get woven into the fabric of who we are and how we live in society. They also feed- forward into the types of experiences and relationships we seek. And our continuing stories do not develop in isolation. They are shaped by years of social interaction – some positive, some painful. Why are these personal narratives so important? Because, by the time we enter adulthood these identities are literally hardwired into our brains.

Mindful self-study guides us towards powerful and positive transformation. Our learning plans at work and in life should include the tools that will help us engage in such self-examination. As an extension, ANY learning, taken with a mindful stance, can lend itself to such self-understanding.

EXERCISE: Write down your personal identity story. Use simple phrases like, “I am patient”, “I am popular”, “I am excellent at managing people”, “I am a good caregiver”, “I am lazy”, etc. You may also write down experiences and influences that helped to shape how you view yourself now. Once you have identified a few of your stories, look at each one and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Where and when did this story originate?
2. Is this story true now, today, this moment?
3. Is this story supporting my happiness or tends to damage my mental health?
4. Do I choose to continue to live this story or is NOW the time to write a new one, with the wisdom gained from mindful self-examination?

Take the journey into the deepest rooms of your narrative, allowing to accept with resolute courage all the aspects that are found, holding without judgment everything that appears.

STORY: I once coached a person into reworking their past narratives. One of the stories they started with: “I am an extreme introvert, and hence cannot ever improve my career.” Appreciative inquiry on my part and mindful self-analysis on his part led to understanding HOW this belief came about, and how he could re-write that narrative, by turning his introversion to his advantage.

In the story of The Hulk, Bruce Banner, through mindful self-examination, becomes aware that there is an other side of him that possesses immense super-human powers. In his struggle to control this other side of him, Bruce develops the courage to acknowledge, and then tries to reconcile and confront his inner being. And thus, he keeps working towards reframing his narrative.