Narratives: Which Story do You Tell Yourself?

I am not sure how you have been feeling lately? The earth energies have been unusually strong. Many of us have felt emotional (fear, anxiety, irritation, frustration being the most common). In this space we are also confronted with the emergence of new emotions which we are not familiar with.

We have entered a phase of human evolution which opens us up to great choice. We are asked to navigate through duality – fear or love. Your openness to these new energies and your courage in making new choices from a place of love versus fear is asked for. And this is where transformation lies – in every conscious decision to change our default story about ourselves.

What story are you telling yourself?

A story you keep telling yourself turns into a narrative. It describes events. They’re a key aspect of any movie, and what we tell ourselves and others about our lives, often repeatedly. Our narrative is influenced by our own deep-rooted conditioning, which influences our opinions, whether we are aware of it or not.

The Great Divide

There are varying narratives relating to the virus, but rather than placing importance on which narrative is the correct one, the attachment to it, is the virus. The narratives themselves, or our attachment to them, are more devastating than the virus itself. It is important to ask ourselves what narratives we are being fed and which ones we feed. Also, are we immune to faulty narratives?

Is it time for change?

Lately, many people seem to have been caught in one of the two main narratives, so opposing that they could be referred to as ‘the two sides’ of ‘the great divide’. Very simplistically, this divide can be described as Vaccinated versus Not vaccinated. But in my view allowing for this to define us or guide our actions means venturing down a descending, slippery path. It’s the path of disempowerment.

Once situated in one of the narratives the grip is firm. Not only does the divide span each person’s own story (micro level), it is integrated with global geopolitics (macro level) with recent Covid events coming across almost as one concerted global action. Perhaps for the first time, due to the interconnectedness of the world, a division is appearing as a crack that spans the globe – that of vaccinated vs. not vaccinated; you could take this thought as far as pro-government vs. anti-government.

Grip firm, division set, some people even refer to the times that we are living in as similar to World War 3. Perhaps it is not too far off, if we agree that we are talking about mind-fields as opposed to mine-fields. Another view is that out of the current chaos a better and healthier world will emerge. Which side are you on?

The Two Fields

I think most will agree that the two fields referred to can be defined as follows:

Trust the science, the governments, and the institutions set-up to guide us during these trying times, or you are a dangerous conspiracy theorist putting yourself, others, and the entire system at risk, or
The science is corrupt, a set-up of governments-corporations-media in cahoots. Instead, trust your expert doctor, scientist, or channeler, or you are a sleeping sheep that is scared by the wolf but will end up getting eaten by the shepherd.

The great divide makes it seem as if each person belongs in one of two camps, but is this correct?

With targeted social media and the like, the new ammunition of various factions, each with their agenda and each trusting that they are offering the ‘real picture’, is explosive. It follows that the steps that we take next, as humanity, are crucial. Although even this thought may also just be a part of a narrative, I would be happy if every person would question this great divide.

I propose that the game changer will be able to see through the apparent divide and focus instead on what unites us.

I, for one, reject the two main camps outlined and certainly see that there is a lot more complexity to the situation at hand than we might like to accept. Rather than determining in which of these two narrow fields or camps I belong, I want to listen to the voice rising from within:
Could it be that insisting on a narrative is itself the virus?

Antidotes to Division

moving past limiting beliefs

Conversations with friends as well as social media feeds and discussions, algorithms, et all, do nothing but reinforce the narrative already programmed. Some question the algorithms that keep adding fuel to already raging fires, and suggest that perhaps we need, instead, to be presented with the ‘other side of the coin’.

One symptom of the narrative-virus creeping deeper and taking our consciousness hostage would be a limited perception of the truth. Therefore, one antidote will be to aim for expansion as opposed to contraction and limitation.

Any narrative mostly blames outside situations, people, and circumstances, be it governments, other institutions, or people infected with a narrative that opposes ours.

Perhaps they are different strains feeding each other? Then a solution will be to refuse to take one stand and choose to focus instead on a life ‘beyond narratives’. This is what many of the enlightened beings have talked about:

To transcend illusion created by the ego we need to free ourselves from the stories we keep telling ourselves who we are.

It sounds to me like we need to take a deep dive within. Not judging others, not judging ourselves, and keeping an open mind with a lot of love in our hearts, will end the real pandemic. Because no matter how deeply we feel something (embracing and opposing as if in a dance) a narrative will always relate to what is relative and not absolute.

Self-Diagnosis

What narratives are currently at play in your life? Do they keep reinforcing themselves? Do they empower you or make you feel helpless? Could it be that even though (seemingly) empowering, they actually limit your vista of truth(s)? Is truth ever to be found on the surface?

The sages point to something other than the game being about which side wins. In midst of duality (perhaps thanks to it) there’s always unity, too. Seeing this might be the ultimate win.

Three signs that a narrative is your master (and not the other way around):

In the midst of duality you feel lost. You are either unable to locate one position or so invested in one that you feel constantly triggered by the ‘other side’ and out of touch with the peace within that a more observing standpoint would offer.
You feel a rush of adrenaline whenever you come across yet another news article or post that supports your belief(s). It can answer to a need to feel right, superior, all-seeing… when in fact it will all short-change you in the longer run, your happiness depending on outer circumstances.
You have developed a kind of blind faith in your narrative. You are unable to question facts that support it just as much as you are unable to take in facts that counter it.

Lines of Non-violent Attack

So how do you eradicate this virus of narrative leading you astray?

First, understand that the fascination with narrative will always be a tool of the ego. Often tickling your ability for self-deception, it attacks your weakness, your longing for ‘instant rewards’, ‘feeling superior’, and so on.

Consider the thought that words like ‘vaccines’, ‘lockdowns’, ‘vaccine passports’ may only be diversions from the truth. Don’t lose hope. Perhaps these words are so alive today for us to understand that they are all meaningless in the big scheme of things, and there is a bliss that we can tap into beyond all of that. It might be scary, but also beneficial.

unity

Forgive those who have a narrative that opposes any of those you are still attached to. Believe it or not, we all have the capacity to hold space for opposing views and to love what seems to ‘work against us’.

Aim to transcend the chaos and claim your true sovereignty. No-one else can give that to you, it is something you must claim, irrespective of outer circumstances. It doesn’t mean we can’t have an opinion or work toward something that we believe in. We simply need not to let it define us or throw us off balance.

Embracing the bigger picture, spiritual insights can truly help. Terms like Lila (divine play) and Maya (illusion) – do look them up! – can really help us walk through life with more playfulness, even during these trying times.

Sages such as Paramahansa Yogananda explain that the physical world operates under the principle of relativity and duality with seemingly separate and diverse manifestations, but that in reality all is made up by one perfect and absolute unity.

Let us focus on that!

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With Love & Unity,

Claudia

About the Author:

It was at the height of Claudia’s high-fly corporate career in luxury hospitality that she arrived at a turning point. Little did she know that an unexpected encounter in the forest in the South of India was to radically change her life.

Claudia is the founder of Soul Luxury and dedicates her knowledge and experience to support people who want to make a profound change in life. She loves anything wellbeing & healing and continues her inner journey.

Claudia also runs a global community for people who place value on self-growth. Working with individuals as a Quantum Energy Coach, she also facilitates retreats and offers personal change programmes. She is an author of a guided journal Your 28 Days to Self Love and I AM EVERY WOMAN, a collection of transformative life stories.