Since a “picture tells 1000 words” I figured I only need to write a handful of words today.
Which is good for all of us.
The other evening, I observed this “phenomenon“.
As you know, I live in a Bali village (not in a straw hut, but an actual house).
And in said village there are LOTS of ceremonies, celebrations (weddings, births, funerals, etc.), band practice (preparing for celebrations), roosters, dogs, and most recently a gaggle of ducks.
So, at times it can be a wee bit noisy.
The other night I was observing mine, and my partners REACTION to “loud noise”.
This time it was band practice, and it started about 8:30pm, when I am generally winding down for the day.
I felt myself getting a bit worked up.
I also noticed Ferry going up a few more notches higher than me.
But then I reminded myself of something I already know.
It is the STORIES we tell about the reality of an experience, which determines the MEANING of the experience, and therefore our body’s ultimate response.
The lightbulb went on, and my level of bothersomeness went down.
How to turn the volume switch up
All of us are exposed to loud noises at times.
They are essentially sounds, at different frequencies, moving through the air or ether.
We hear them with our auditory senses.
Our brain translates their meaning (e.g. their source and relationship to us), and whether we need to take any action.
But essentially, the noise is the noise, is the noise.
That is, the sound we hear is the reality of the experience.
Now if we want to heighten the experience – either positively or negatively – we can start telling STORIES about what the sound means.
And the “stories” we tell take the volume up a notch, leave it as is, or even turn it down so it drifts into the back of your consciousness awareness.
So, we actually have a lot of control over the emotional experience with have with a LOUD noise, based on the stories we tell.
We create our (ultimate) reality.
Which, in fact, is good to know – IF we remain consciously aware of the power we hold.
And now, a 1000 more words on the topic…
OR, just check out the image below.
In Summary
There is REALITY and then there are STORIES about reality.
The STORIES we tell about reality actually change our relationship (and even our physical experience) with reality.
If you tell a moany-baloney story about a “loud noise” – for example – the loud noise is going to bother you a lot more, than if you tell no story, or a positive story.
My Parting Words
I love a wee diagram.
And it definitely (I think) makes my point clear here.
If we tell crappy stories about an experience we are having, it is guaranteed to make us feel worse.
And it is something we can do quite easily, if we are not paying attention.
So, today’s message (again) is about paying attention to the stories you use to describe reality.
Knowing that the nature of the story you tell will change the reality of your experience (guaranteed).
Which is a pretty wild thought.
But seemingly true, if you put it to the test.
Are there any things that are you (unknowingly) AMPING up, by telling emotive and perhaps not 100% true stories?
You know what to do.
Now also might be a good time to do a plug for my Online version of my 1/2-day workshop “Overcoming Self-Imposed Limitations“, which I filmed the other day, and which will be launching at the start of December!
So watch this space.
Have a wonderful day of enhanced curiosity, and a week of (VERY) conscious story-telling
Take care.
Carl
Quotable QUOTE:
“The STORIES we tell about reality actually change our relationship (and even our physical experience) with reality.” Carl Massy
(Author of 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be)
PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be
