Quote:
Originally Posted by Ididitmyway
But, I ultimately found my saving grace in the teachings of Ekhart Tolle who talked and wrote extensively about staying in the present, here and now. One of the things he talks about is creating a distance between us and our stories and not identifying with any story no matter how beautiful and comforting it may be. When I remind myself that I am not my story it makes life easier. That's why I am not into archetypes very much. To me it's still a story even if it represents one of the collective themes. It's nice to be aware of it. I do believe that it helps us to understand our crazy egos and when we understand the ego better we can manage it better. But I found that distancing myself from any story I tell about myself is the key for me for feeling more alive. As an average human being I can't stay present all the time or even as much as I'd like to but I do my best.
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Interesting point! I do think that however attuned we are to the present - and whatever efforts we make to be fully aware and in the now - that we DO still have a narrative about ourselves. We may not always be conscious of the narrative, but it is still there. I think this is why my early attempts at using meditation to try deal with depression and anxiety just weren't adequate. I also think that is why many people who engage with these types of philosophies and spiritual practices are not actually confronting their core issues. Some kind of representation of the self is necessary for day to day functioning - no matter how immersed one tries to be in the moment.
That being said - a fairytale is obviously not a really accurate representation of oneself or ones life. I think it can help to explore certain issues and possibly provide some insights. For instance your question as to why I chose my username rather than 'Gerda' made me reflect on the way I also identified with Kay. And the ambivalence I have to Kay-me. This then lead to an improved handling of a shame-rage state that I went into...