Storytelling Thoughts

Question 1

What is the purpose of mental storytelling?

Answer 1

Getting at causes

I don’t have ___ bc____

My friend hasn’t called Bc he is self absorbed
I don’t have a spouse Bc I’m unattractive.
I’m not rich Bc the game is rigged

Question 2

What does it mean that our minds are storytelling machines?

Answer 2

Mind loves to take ambiguous situations and make up a likely explanation. We hate uncertainty.

Question 3

How should we relate to our stories?

Answer 3

We should see them as mere thoughts, hypotheses or possibilities…we can never know if they are absolutely true

Question 4

How to unravel a story?

Answer 4

Ask why did that happen or is that true?

Keep asking until you run out of answers.

Soon you will realize how shallow or unbelievable some of the stories turn out to be.

Question 5

Give an example of unraveling a story

Answer 5

My father hasn’t called Bc he is angry at me.

Why?

Bc he thinks I’m lazy.

Why?

Bc I still don’t have a job.

Why?

Bc I keep sending out resumes and no call backs.

Why?

Bc I have a stupid resume.

Why?

I don’t know.