March 2024: Chapters
We know ourselves in chapters narrating our past, future and present. We can work with our story to learn and grow.
Re-reading our lives
We see afresh, thank,
heal and learn.
In sketchy future stories
We ink maybes in outline.
But what of this chapter, now?
Where has it begun? What is light and dark,
Where does this road carry on?
Narrative Arcs
Our story-loving brain marks beginnings and endings, and between them sets arcs of experience, insight, and change bouncing along a narrative of stepping-stone-events we may have labelled ‘good’ and ‘bad’.
A chapter may open with a new role, place or person. It describes new experiences and ideas and learnings, loss or gain, joy and pain. It often closes with a decision.
It can help to re-read the past, to learn and heal. We can also look at the blank pages and speculate on the future.
But perhaps most important is to know clearly the chapter we are in now.
take 5 …
Journal about the present chapter - what are you experiencing and learning?
To meditate first, contemplate the question ‘what is in my present chapter?’
It may help to list aspects of your current life in three columns under the headings: like, neutral or dislike.
Write using questions like these: ‘When did this current chapter begin?’ (it may be recent; don’t go back more than 7 years). ‘What have been the major themes, feelings and events?’
… and an experiment!
We can create a project that looks back over the chapters of life, re-appraising the stories, thanking, accepting, healing.
We can also decide it’s about time the present chapter came to an end. What change or new perspective would close this chapter and open the next?
quotes …
Life is the ability to start over again ~ Joan D. Chittister
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less ~ Marie Curie
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ~ Carl Jung
ps
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In my news: with my colleague Mary Jane-Newton I had a very special time at the British University of Georgia where we led workshops on Leadership and Personal Growth.
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Roddy