Work of the Soul

I have been thinking lately about the power of our story and that we all have our own evolving story lines. We each have different characters and plays that we have created based on our perceptions but none of us really know other people's plays or what their story lines are unless we share them.  So we should never, ever assume that they are anything like ours.  They have their play and we have ours.  A simple conversation can introduce us to a few of their main characters. We can also start having a conversation or inner dialogue with ourselves so that we become skilled at getting to know our own inner cast.  We can change our cast by changing our perceptions, changing our character/s and our view, we can even adapt or recreate our storyline but this takes time and understanding. We cannot change other people's plays but we can discover what part that have us cast in. We can even change their perceptions by what story we present.   It's good to know what part we play in other people's dramas. 

We begin by observing our own patterns of perception and the stories we tell ourselves.   Some people don't know they are trapped in old roles, beliefs and some do know but they don't know how to change.  Some of the roles have been difficult or painful and perhaps that story has never been told.  I was thinking about how a child will wait forever for a parent to return. It doesn't care how badly the parent has treated it, for it holds on to hope, even if the child is mad.  The Inner Child does this as well, it waits for us patiently and when the time is right it will let you know what it has to say.  

Our stories, our perceptions can change by doing Inner Work and by getting to know those characters.  

For instance if we have been abandoned or neglected as children or abused we may perceive that others are abandoning us when in fact they have a whole other script going.  The only way out is to go in!  

Our roles may change over time but that child might be pretty unhappy if it was forced to play a lousy part, after all don't we all prefer a good role.  The good news is we can change the story line, recast our characters. We can recreate and start a new family, an inner family and a new story for our lives.  It is never too late. 

The true teacher lives within each of us and it is our job to come to know that wise teacher.   We need to move into the job of  directing our own lives and begining to rewrite and change our script.  Being a director is not for everyone for it means taking control of what is happening.

 This is your life why not make it great!  

written by,

Mary Hoffman, MA 

2009