dit-moi une historie (faux)

Humans want narratives.
I know this because I work in the film industry- Humans want stories. Hard facts are mearly props in the story, and as such can be used any number of different ways according to the story the author wants to tell.

Everyone tells themselves stories-and often between individuals, stories are the source of miscommunication, and even breakdown of all communication. Women especially tell themselves stories, and get caught up in the emotion of what they THINK happened, they act on that emotion before they even bother to find out if it was true. Kind of like when you wake up angry from a dream. You may punch the person in bed next to you, even if you know the emotions the dream inspired aren't real.

Crazy!

So the option then, seems pretty clear, ASK. Tell the person what's going through your head, and either experience the emotions because you were right, or get over it.

But what about when the stories are helpful-what about when the stories keep us from engaging ourselves in situations that can be more emotionally damaging than believing the untested story? Is it good then to hold onto the story? Is it better to have the comfor of the truth we've made up than the harsh reality?

Maybe yes.

Maybe facts don't really matter-they are just props. Maybe the emotional experience is what people really want. Life is still stressful, but we for the most part don't experience the stress to survive that our ancestors did. Stories often create emotional stress, and maybe that's what Humans need to evolve and grow.

I feel when people say they seek Truth, what they really mean is they are seeking the answer that really resonates for them. Your Truth is not mine is not my brothers is not my best friends. And while we all may be able to see the value of the others, we all have to find our own.

So maybe, if in all these false (I hope) stories I'm telling myself, there is still an important grain of Truth-as well as a handy emotional wall.