Our human minds organize things into stories. Starting in infancy, we begin to take in the world and — as a matter of necessity — create stories: “this is someone who takes care of me,” “this is something cuddly,” “if I cry, I’ll get carried around…”
At a certain point, the stories we tell evolve to teach us how to handle ourselves in social situations and keep us safe (“if I eat with my hands at a formal dinner, people will stare,” “this dark ally probably isn’t safe”).
Where do the stories we tell stop being useful and start being harmful?
When do they hold us back? Where do we become judgmental jerks?
In this final week of the current mindfulness stories, we explore the stories we tell ourselves about the world and our neighbors as we seek to rewrite the narrative to something more meaningful.
Monday : Set Intention
As we embark on the final week in this series, it’s a good time to look back on the last 13 weeks (gasp) and consider the patterns that tend to repeat in our lives. What are the stories we tell ourselves about those patterns? It’s not about taking “blame” so much as reflecting on our role in everything that presents itself in our lives. If you use a knife to cut vegetables for dinner, then knives are good. If you use that same knife to hurt a person, then knives are bad. Right? Or is the story you’re telling about the knife to blame?
Tuesday : Slow Flow
Crow (Bakasana) and Crane (Kakasana) are great level 1 / level 2 arm balances. You have a sturdy foundation from which to fly. They’re also fun! Today, in this extended (nearly 20 minute) “slow” flow, we take time to assemble the pieces of Crow and Crane in a way that I think makes them more accessible. As always, it’s never (ever) about making the shape. If you never come into the arm balances, that’s OK. It is, instead, about creating the CIRCUMSTANCES for the shape: establishing alignment and facing your fears. You’ll be tempted to tell yourself stories about these poses: “I’m not strong enough.” “I might fall.” “That looks scary.” Maybe just set those stories to the side and let yourself have this play time!
Wednesday : Meditation
There is a clear distinction between the feelings we experience and the stories we tell ourselves about them. Consider the last time you really lost your temper with someone: a person you trusted crossed a boundary and violated that trust. You’re angry, and you have every right to be. But then you keep thinking about it. You keep rehashing the argument. Wondering what you did that made them behave so badly. Creating entire melodramas about how you’re going to tell them off next time. Then you begin at the beginning. Now, it’s stopped being about your hurt feelings and become all about the drama you’re weaving. Why are you doing that? Have the feeling. Breathe it in. And release the narrative.
Thursday : Mindful Hack
If your day — your walk from the parking lot, down the hall or to the grocery store — intersects with someone else’s, it’s very unlikely they’re having the same kind of day you are. Maybe you’ve been challenged, but they just got the best news. Maybe you’re basking in a success at work, but they are struggling to find a decently-paying job. What’s their story? It can be fun to write other people’s stories … to reflect on what brought them to the produce aisle this morning and how you happened to overlap. It can also help reframe things when someone doesn’t behave the way you think they should.
Friday : Athletic Vinyasa
In what I think is “fanciest” flow yet, we’ll incorporate some of the more challenging things we’ve been working on this year: Crow (Bakasana) and Tripod Headstand (Sirasana). We’ll start with a gentle spinal warm up, refresh the Crow prep from last week, then — incorporating it into a flow — see if we can transition from Crow to Headstand. If you’ve already decided that’s too much just from reading this description, maybe consider what “story” you’re telling yourself. Do you have a real physical limitation (if you do, please don’t try this!), or are you just nervous because it looks scary? If it’s the latter, just make sure you have some room to fall safely and let yourself explore and play!
Saturday : Meditation
The only thing that’s real is that which is happening right now. Right in this moment. Anything that happened in the past doesn’t exist. It’s not real. If you find yourself caught in a loop repeating the same story over and over again, just … rewrite it. That doesn’t mean changing what happened. It means changing how you talk about what happened. Are you harping on the same interaction / email / conversation or complaining about something that irked you a month again? It’s done. It’s over. And you’re choosing to let it define you. So … stop. Reframe it. Rewrite it. Or just stop telling it altogether.
Sunday : Reflection
Nothing real can be threatened.
A Course in Miracles
Nothing unreal exists.
I have recently begun a deeper study of A Course in Miracles, and it’s definitely already been reflected in my work here at Daily Flow. If we accept that we shape the world around us through our thoughts (if I’m a person who loves rain, and it’s raining… then that’s a beautiful day!), then miracles are as simple as being aware of — and shifting — our thoughts.
If you want to see change … SEE change.
Nothing that appears in this blog or on this website is intended to treat or diagnose any disorder, physical or otherwise. Always consult a physician before beginning any exercise program.
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