Spiritual Paradox

The deepest truths require paradox. Our relationship with our “story” illustrates the essential role of paradox in the spiritual life. On the one hand, telling your story proudly is a wonderful way to live with authenticity and integrity. We can declare without shame and with pride the triumphs and tribulations that have made us who we are. Telling your story is both powerful and empowering to others. Without the ability to tell our stories and name our experiences, we can be left feeling homeless in our lives, without perspective, and disconnected from our past. On the other hand, an over-attachment to our stories can leave us feeling locked into certain roles and imprisoned by a narrow understanding of ourselves and the past. We can easily forget that our story is just that—a story that we tell ourselves about the past based on our current understanding; yet this understanding can and does change over time. Sometimes, telling our story in a particular way can perpetuate limiting beliefs and assumptions about ourselves. Telling our story in the same way over time can leave us feeling stuck. Sometimes, we can get attached to a particular story or way of telling our story that locks us in old, unhelpful patterns. We are always far greater than any story we tell about ourselves. Some questions for reflection: How has the way you tell your story evolved over time? Do you feel like you are growing out of the way you’ve told your story? Notice if you feel like you would like to share your story in a new way with a fresh perspective. Give yourself permission to change the way you understand the past which can transform how you understand the present and the future. Weekend Wisdom is a weekly sharing from Copper Beech Institute’s founder, Dr. Brandon Nappi.