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Are we all storytellers even if we don't write? |
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We create a narrative for our lives. Some stories are good, others not so. Self-talk or inner speech is an inner narrative which gives a voice to our thoughts while we are awake. Dramatists use a monologue or soliloquy to tell the audience what a character is thinking. They sometimes use it to share information with the audience. But what of the stories we tell ourselves? Why do we do it and can they affect us? For most of us, the answer is yes, and our story can impact everything we do. Tell ourselves a bad story and our life can be hell. Introspection is the examination of our own conscious thoughts. It also involves a look at our soul in a spiritual context. For thousands of years, people talked about the inner voice. Plato once questioned, “...why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts”. Self-reflection is an image we have of ourselves and is hard to change. It comes from things learned about who we are. Research has shown human brains can only experience one thought at a time as a fast-flowing stream. Buddhist scriptures describe it as the 'Mind Stream'. Practising mindfulness is being aware of the moment-to-moment events in our lives and how we react. Buddhist teachings say the mental and material events created by the senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, touch, and thoughts are related to the past, present, and future. In literature, the technique of narrating the flow of thoughts and feelings in the minds of characters is called stream of consciousness. Stream of consciousness is a literary device which gives the writer the ability to tell an audience or reader what a character is thinking. It can be a loose selection of thoughts in connection with how the person feels or reacts to something. Authors, however, did not invent stream of consciousness but the term was coined by eminent psychologist William James. Susan Blackmore, visiting professor, University of Plymouth describes it this way, “When I say that consciousness is an illusion I do not mean that consciousness does not exist. I mean that consciousness is not what it appears to be. If it seems to be a continuous stream of rich and detailed experiences, happening one after the other to a conscious person, this is the illusion.” We know a negative self-talking story is associated with psychological disorders such as low moods affecting how we behave, and our sense of well-being. It can also lead to a sense of dread and turmoil resulting in loss of sleep. In the next blog, I look at ways to tell ourselves a better story. |
| Living in this time of COVID-19 or the novel corona virus witnesses a few challenges not seen before--at least not in my lifetime. I've read stories about a time when coupons were issued for petrol or gasoline. Coupons were also issued for sugar and other commodities in short supply. American civilians got their first “Sugar Book” in May 1942. Coffee was rationed in that same year to 0.45kg to individuals ever five weeks. By November 1943 even firewood was rationed. In the UK, rationing was more severe than during the war years. The limit on sugar and eggs did not end until 1954. Black and white images from that time show people in queues waiting patiently for their supplies In 2020 television viewers witnessed three women in a supermarket aisle fighting over packets of toilet rolls. The modern consumer experienced decades of abundant goods with readily available funds to purchase. Most people in the developed world have not lived through hardship. How will the modern person cope with rationing? Foreseeably, emissions credits will be allocated to all adults where those who emit below their quota can sell their surplus credits. Most people accept this as a consequence of modern living. But what if the COVID-19 gains further traction the supply chain? How would the CEO’s of supermarket chains cope? OCR scans on phones (in place of stamps), could limit a commodity the consumer buys at any one time, such as toilet paper. Present day shoppers not allowed to buy what and when they want? Quelle horreur! |
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