We Tend To Make Up Our Own Truths: What Stories Are You Making Up?

Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that fits his reality. Oddly, more often than looking for truth, we tend to make up our own truths. Meet Roger & Elaine. Roger is attracted to Elaine and asks her out. She accepts; they have a good time. Later, he asks her out again, and again they enjoy themselves. After a while neither one of them is seeing anyone else.

One evening on the way home, a thought occurs to Elaine. She says, "do you realize that we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?" Silence. I wonder if that bothered him? Maybe he feels confined.

Maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him, Elaine thinks.

Roger, meanwhile, thinks, "six months?"

Elaine's thoughts continue. But I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship either. I wish I had more space, time to think about where we are going. Are we just going to keep seeing each other like this? Marriage? Children? Am I ready? Do I even know him?

Roger's thoughts are a little different: so that means ...let's see?February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means I'm?Whoa! Way overdue for an oil change!

"He's upset," muses Elaine, "It's on his face." He wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. She gasps, mentally. He's afraid of being rejected! "And they are going to look at the transmission again, it's still not shifting right. They better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. I can't believe it cost $600. I'll bet..."

He's angry -- I don't blame him. I'd be angry too. I feel so guilty for putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure if...

"They'll say it's only a 90 day warranty. I'll bet they'll tell me..."

I'm too idealistic, waiting for a knight on a white horse. I'm sitting beside a perfectly good person. I enjoy being with Roger, I care about him...he cares about me. And now he's in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic...

"Warranty? I'll tell them what to do with their warranty. They can-"

"Roger," says Elaine, interupting Roger's mental tirade.

"Huh?" Says Roger, startled.

"Please don't torture yourself," she says, her eyes beginning to mist. "Maybe I should never have?..oh, I feel so awful?" Roger stays silent, but one eyebrow lifts slightly in puzzlement.

"I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs, "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that's silly. There's no knight and no horse."

"No horse?" Roger's eyebrow rises another quarter inch.

"You think I'm a fool, don't you?"

"No!" Says Roger, relieved.

"I need time," Elaine says.

"Yes," he says, after a brief pause. Elaine, moved, reaches to touch his hand.

"Oh Roger, do you really feel that way about me?"

"Yes indeed," says Roger hesitantly.

"Thank you, Roger," She says.

" Thank you," says Roger.

The next day, Elaine calls her best friend. Together they analyze the whole scenario in a marathon two hour conversation. A few days later, Roger plays racquetball with a mutual friend of their's. He pauses before serving and asks, "did Elaine ever own a horse?"

The ways that we see ourselves and the world at large is a function of the "stories" that we make up.

We need to challenge our views on things. After doing this, a whole new set of opportunities may emerge. Our stories lurk in the strangest places!

Eric Johnson is a regular contributor to the Investor's Value View Newsletter. To learn how to contact Mr. Johnson or to subscribe to the Investor's Value View Newsletter, visit http://www.valueview.net

---

True Power: Understanding the Source of All Creation and Creativity

"True Power" is a series that will focus on proven techniques to accomplish any goal. Each exercise is designed to enlarge your ability to believe what you want is possible and will actually... Read More

Breathing Out Stage Fright

You're stepping onto the stage, amidst opening night flurry and last minute stage directions. In the audience are the director you'd like to work with, the reviewer everyone listens to, and your first... Read More

My Work Is My Play - The Journey From Survival to Creativity

"For the love a' creation!", my father was fond of expounding, when "Pete" and "God" had run their course. It was years later until I realized that sentence actually held meaning for me... Read More

Who Wants To Be A Creative Genius?

Can You Learn Creativity?Have you ever watched Robin Williams do a stand-up routine? Could so much creativity and spontaneity result from a highly organized approach? Definitely. Wild and funny thoughts don't come from... Read More

Recharge Your Battery

It was 4:15PM on a Thursday when I arrived at the hair salon to get my haircut. My hair appointment was at 5PM but I arrived there quite early.As I set down in... Read More

Creativity Stereotypes ? Are They Holding You Back?

Here's a quick quiz:1) When I see a see a sunrise, I'm moved to:A. Compose a poem.B. Try and capture the beauty with my paints and brush.C. Stumble drunkenly into bed -- boy... Read More

How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know

Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think that increased creativity is something that would improve your life?Before you answer yes or no to that question, take some time to explore... Read More

Art, Artists and Money

Practical money tips for people in the arts.1. Sock it AwayIf you are in the arts there is no such thing as a steady paycheck. Money usually comes in spurts with no money,... Read More

Top Five Reasons to Cultivate Your Creativity

Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a hobby or performing and displaying your work. Cultivating your creativity takes time, awareness and deliberate action. Creativity like any other skill, needs to... Read More

7 Things Sapping Your Creativity Right Now

This was a very easy article to write. I was late in getting started this month, and as my publication deadline got closer and I could no longer wait until I "felt" like... Read More

Learn A Life Skill TODAY!

Did you ever watch your grandma knitting?Wasn't it boring? Didn't it seem to take forever?Most of us live life in the fast lane.Who needs to buy balls of yarn, search for patterns and... Read More

Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks

"It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I hear.Well, I'm all for having a party, but it strikes me that you don't have to be an American to appreciate freedom, and... Read More

Problem Solving Techniques For Business And Life

Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your bottom line and your life.Do you ever run out of good ideas, or go around in circles trying to come up with a... Read More

Connect with Your Muse

Lately I've been discussing how to thrive as a creative artist by connecting with different things. I thought it might be helpful to begin this article with some distinctions.Inner Artist - A Part... Read More

Fear & Creativity

My fears are most powerful when they're simmering just under the surface of my awareness. I'm resistant to a new idea, I'm defensive about holding on to my old ways, I feel excited... Read More

The Optimal Mind State

Let's begin by defining the optimal mind state and the power it will give you to channel your energy toward your desired outcome. The optimal mind state is a quality of attention that... Read More

Creativity Management ? Artists and Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

Creativity Management ? The Value Of An Idea?

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

Produce Creativity: 4 Ways To Motivate Your Melon

It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall ? hard. But there was so much work to be done! And I just had to get out of the office or else... Read More

Creating and Living Your Ideal Legacy

A legacy is more than a gift that lives on after you. Certainly, a legacy is a contribution to humanity. A legacy provides value to future generations. However, if you are creating your... Read More

Analysis of The Monkeys Paw by W. W. Jacobs: A Study in Lateral Thinking

I first read The Monkey's Paw as a youngster in Junior High School. I was touched by how an elderly couple received the gift that everyone would want, three wishes, and how the... Read More

The Sylvia Plath Pattern Of Creative Flow

* Sylvia Plath teaches a valuable lesson about the Even Flow - opening the channels for creativity, regardless of this is for poetry or not.Sylvia Plath was a poet and that was her... Read More

How to be More Creative and Enhance Your Creativity

efore thinking about how to be more creative, let me begin point out some real barriers that some people seem to have when wanting to enhance creativity, have a think if any of... Read More

Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

Creativity Myths

Sustained myths about Creativity and Innovation lead to confusion, bad practice and bad decision making. Some of them include:1. Creativity requires Creative TypesWhile some theorists assert that there are creativity traits such as... Read More

Creative Memory Tricks

What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you... Read More

10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

Creativity is your birthright ? but can often be hidden in the everyday. To facilitate your personal development and self growth, here are some creativity tips you can use to resurrect, refresh and... Read More

Tips on Breaking the Creative Block

There's no question that creating anything is hard to do. Here are some tips if you find yourself creatively blocked.Set a GoalSet a goal for yourself. For example, it could be to write... Read More

Creating Success

All things begin in consciousness.Consciousness originates everything that is manifest. Universal consciousness makes manifest the entire universe and subsides within its' creation. You and your individual consciousness are indivisible from the universe and... Read More