Changing Story, Changing Self: The Power of Personal Narrative for Self-Healing

Is it our basic nature to be disconnected and discontent, or are we fundamentally whole and healthy? What are the stories that are influencing how we live our lives? How is contemporary neuroscience affecting our understanding of the biological imperative for storytelling?

In this workshop, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, helps us ask

• What are the stories that guide our lives?
• What roles do we play in our relationships—love, work, family, friends?
• For whom do we play out these stories?
• Do the stories work or do they lead us into pain?
• How can we change our stories to move toward greater happiness and balance?

Native American elders teach that every story has a spirit and that we cannot escape its influence. Through experiential exercises, we discover the spirits of our stories, the voices that repeat the stories to us as if they were true. We dialogue with these characters, use role-playing techniques, and consider how to change them. An atmosphere of play, fun, and curiosity facilitates personal exploration into the “yoga of stories.”