The Stories We Tell
A photo of the Titanic with the words, “Like Rose, we are the architects of our lives and choose our narrative.”
In this blog post, I want to share a story and talk about how we can use narratives and storytelling in our daily Buddhist practice. First, let’s talk about narratives.
Our past experiences are like threads in a tapestry, creating the personal story we carry with us. This tapestry isn't just about sharing where we've been—it's also about guiding where we're headed. For example, my story includes being a wife, a mom, a Buddhist, and a creative. In a moment, I'll share another narrative, but for now, let's focus on how our stories shape our lives. These narratives can be self-fulfilling and are even used in modern psychology as narrative therapy. Clearly, stories have a big impact on us, whether we're talking about everyday life or spiritual practices.
Now it’s story time! We’ll begin the way all great stories do with "once upon a time…"
Once upon a time, there was a guy named Jack. Jack roamed from place to place, doing odd jobs and scraping by. One day, he found himself on the deck of a fancy cruise ship, thanks to a poker win. There, he met Rose, another passenger, whose life was all mapped out by her mom, leaving her feeling trapped. Feeling overwhelmed, she considered jumping into the ocean for a way out. That's when Jack and Rose crossed paths, and he convinced her not to jump into the icy water.
As they spent time together on the ship, Jack painted a new picture of the future for Rose. He talked about adventures they could have together, all the places they could explore, and the experiences they could share. At first, Rose found his ideas both ridiculous and intriguing. Ultimately, she faced a tough decision: stick to the path laid out for her or embrace a life full of adventure? Years later, as Rose looked through old photos of her journey, she realized she'd crafted her own story and made it come true. She chose adventure.
Yes, this is the plot to the 1997 Titanic movie. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to look at our narratives and reflect on how we see and talk about ourselves. It’s a reminder that we can decide where our narrative will take us. Like Rose, we are the architects of our lives and choose our narrative. Remember I said before narratives can be self-fulfilling, so write your narrative to embrace the “you” you want to be.
We might choose to see ourselves as someone who listens to the Buddha’s teachings every day, letting these lessons perfume our minds and become part of who we are. It all starts with what we do right now, every single day. Instead of waiting for tomorrow, we can set a daily intention to practice and bring our stories to life. As Rennyo said, “Listen to the Buddhist teaching, even if you must take time out from your daily business. To believe that you will listen when you have some spare time is shallow thinking. There is no tomorrow in listening to the teaching.” So, where is your story taking you, and what steps are you taking each day to get there?
