Some years ago when the news announced that Michael Jackson had died, my friend's 13 year-old daughter gathered with her 13-year old friends to hold a vigil. Blasting from someone's computer was the song "Man in the Mirror". I wondered to myself, what did these babies know about Michael Jackson or his songs. They were dancing like performers to an imaginary concert audience and their voices seemed to multiply when they belted out the chorus, "I'm starting with the girl in the mirror," they improvised as they pointed at the invisible mirror, "I'm asking her to make that change... oh yeah!"
As I think about the importance of those lyrics, I am aware that we have the power to make a change in our lives by the story we tell about ourselves...and by the narrative we create. Just like any story, we have to have a start. As a child, if you were like me, when I read a story that started "Once upon a time..." I looked forward to being taken on a ride with a good ending. I just love a good story.
So how about our own story? How does it begin? The story that will lead you down a life-giving path. If you want to make a change, it doesn't really matter what your story used to be, today we can make that change, if necessary, and create a new narrative.
Often I have to stand in front of a group and speak in a way that is engaging and holds the audience's attention. Yet each and every time, for a long time, as the butterflies raged, I would tell myself a story that I would bomb before my audience. It was a story that made me sick, until one day I realized that while I had been preparing a stellar content, I was also telling my mind I would bomb. I was sending a message to myself that my preparation was not enough, thus the butterflies. Why hadn't I created a better, richer, more life-enhancing story for myself? Why didn't I at least change my words? One thing I could have said, "I'm off to deliver a well-prepared message." Yeah!!
Now, after having practised for a while, whenever I stand before an audience, even if I feel the butterflies beginning to call out to me, I remind myself that I have prepared and it will be well. I have a new habit... it is a habit of telling myself a new story. A true story. A story that creates a more accurate and a more helpful narrative for myself. Yes, why not?
We each could start that habit today. It does not matter what you have ever told yourself before, today you can make that change. Today you can create a new story by first changing your thoughts about yourself and what is possible for you. "I have prepared, it will be well" That is the start of one of my stories... what is the start of yours?
We've got to make that change!!
As I think about the importance of those lyrics, I am aware that we have the power to make a change in our lives by the story we tell about ourselves...and by the narrative we create. Just like any story, we have to have a start. As a child, if you were like me, when I read a story that started "Once upon a time..." I looked forward to being taken on a ride with a good ending. I just love a good story.
So how about our own story? How does it begin? The story that will lead you down a life-giving path. If you want to make a change, it doesn't really matter what your story used to be, today we can make that change, if necessary, and create a new narrative.
Often I have to stand in front of a group and speak in a way that is engaging and holds the audience's attention. Yet each and every time, for a long time, as the butterflies raged, I would tell myself a story that I would bomb before my audience. It was a story that made me sick, until one day I realized that while I had been preparing a stellar content, I was also telling my mind I would bomb. I was sending a message to myself that my preparation was not enough, thus the butterflies. Why hadn't I created a better, richer, more life-enhancing story for myself? Why didn't I at least change my words? One thing I could have said, "I'm off to deliver a well-prepared message." Yeah!!
Now, after having practised for a while, whenever I stand before an audience, even if I feel the butterflies beginning to call out to me, I remind myself that I have prepared and it will be well. I have a new habit... it is a habit of telling myself a new story. A true story. A story that creates a more accurate and a more helpful narrative for myself. Yes, why not?
We each could start that habit today. It does not matter what you have ever told yourself before, today you can make that change. Today you can create a new story by first changing your thoughts about yourself and what is possible for you. "I have prepared, it will be well" That is the start of one of my stories... what is the start of yours?
We've got to make that change!!
