Stop Making Stories

"Truth reveals itself only in the moment we stop making up its story. A story is not necessary. We only make up our story out of fear."

-- Steve Hagen. How the World Can Be the Way It Is, p. 298

Stories are wonderful! It's just that not a one of them is true. They are small home movies of only a limited part of any situation. They include only the elements upon which we choose to focus, and they are both highly subjective and laden with interpretation.

Stories can make us laugh or cry, inform us or inspire us, induce a whole rainbow of emotions and entertain us all at the same time. What they can't do is show us the truth.

The truth is reality sans story. It is what is without play-by-play, voice overs, commentary, or dramatization. The truth is discovered through bare attention, not through thinking, interpreting, or creating. The truth stares you in the face each and every moment. The only relevant question is: Can you stare back? Can you just see the truth without making up a story about it?

You walk into a room. A small group of people, some of who are acquaintances of yours, are laughing. One of them looks over, sees you, and immediately the laughing ceases. What is your story? If you're the paranoid type, your story may be that they were laughing about you, and you caught them damn it! If you see good everywhere you go, perhaps they are planning a surprise party just for you. Ooh la la. Or perhaps someone just told a joke that they know you wouldn't think is funny. Or they just plain don't like you. Or .....

The truth is people were laughing and then stopped laughing the moment you entered the room. That's the whole truth and nothing but the truth. All the rest is speculation and story. All the rest is totally unnecessary.

For most of us, our minds have an automatic tendency to create stories. It's how we attempt to make meaning out of life, and as Steve Hagen points out, it is based upon fear. Fear of what? Fear of not knowing what the hell is going on. Fear that life has no meaning. Fear that if we don't organize truth into nice little vignettes, we will be overwhelmed with chaos! You say you don't see the fear? That's because it's hidden behind your stories!

It's OK that your mind has this automatic story-generating function. Just let the stories come and let the stories go. Laugh at them, marvel at them, just don't attach to them or believe them. Above all, don't mistake your stories about reality for reality! Reality is naked. Your stories are all dressed up with no place to go, except around and around in your head.

Today, get off the story merry go round. Play the game of Catch Myself Telling a Story, instead. It's kind of like catch and release fishing. Catch the story, marvel at its length, at its beauty and then immediately let it go. Don't worry, you'll catch some more. Everything from little minnows to big whoppers are swimming around in Mind Lake. Experience the thrill of catching them. Experience the peace of releasing them. It's up to you whether you hang a sign that says "Gone Fishing" on your forehead.