“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.”
Hannah Arendt
I am curious . . .
Is it possible I may be able to train myself to hear another’s story ~ to pause long enough to experience the spaces within it ~ and listen purely for the true meaning it contains in those spaces?
What are they really saying?
Behind and beneath the words?
And would I be willing to delve in with them
To find their heart’s feelings:
The pieces that are missing as they mourn?
The wondrous additions as they rejoice?
There are at least two lessons I see right away.
(And in this world of infinite possibilities, I’m sure there are even more meanings . . .
certainly more you each could add as well?)
First lesson: to be curious about the meaning of the story for the other . . .
And second lesson: to seek the meaning that I am to carry into my own heart and life.
When, as I listen to another, I add the “baggage” of my own assumptions or opinions or preconceived motives learned from he experiences and the subsequent stories I’ve accumulated from my own past, “my story” actually gets superimposed upon theirs!
To do so, I am actually relying on an older “limited” iOS instead of an updated “less limited” one (thank you Vishen Lakhiani for sharing that analogy) . . . !
Any reliance on my older limited views indicates I’m making the unfortunate choice of “committing the error of defining” their story.
And sadly, in the process, I may very well lose the full meaning of my own “takeaway.”
This would be my error of “boxing it in” rather than “leaving the cage door open”.
However . . .
If I could set the old view(s) aside
Even ever so briefly
Reminding myself in the moment to remain available to see anew over and over . . .
Then I could begin to walk a path leading to glimpses of the heaven that is already here on earth . . .
The meanings
Hidden in all things
Everywhere.
I would be able to
See
More.
What if we all agreed
For one day
To pause
To listen . . .
With no intent
To define
Anything
At
All?
What will it mean, then?
Power In Pause 
Hi Jenelle, hope you, Johnny and family are all doing well!
I saw this on Laura Aboliâs site on Telegram. I thought you would find this interesting.
The ego is impatient, it knows its time is limited, after all itâs just this lifeâs avatar. Your soul however, is patient, it knows itâs timeless and eternal.
The more you allow your soul to be the driver of your life, the greater the sense of peace, patience and understanding you will enjoy.
The ego is useful but must be placed in its rightful place, which is not the driverâs seat. Let your ego work for you, the greater you, not for itself.
Everything in life is about balance, getting the right cooperation between ego, heart and soul is not always easy but itâs the only way to a happy, meaningful and fulfilling life.
Your soul knows itâs purpose, but it canât achieve anything without your ego, your ego cares only about survival and self-preservation and your heart is often not in the right place.
The starting place is understanding the purpose and meaning of life, once you do, you know you must listen to your soul first and foremost. Your heart will soon cooperate and with these two in cohoots, keeping your ego in check and on target, becomes much easier.
Life is work in progress; an ongoing, endless succession of lessons that one must take on oneâs stride. But thereâs always the satisfaction of tests passed, of hurdles overcome, of big and small achievements enjoyed and if done consciously and with awareness, of a sense of evolution, fulfilment and contentment.
Itâs not easy, but itâs not impossible either, practice makes perfect, so itâs about grounding yourself, understanding your inner power, knowing you are more than this, listening to your soul, nurturing your heart, forgiving and forgetting the past, learning from it, transcending the material and the mundane, appreciating the beauty within us and around us, being grateful for the important things in life and knowing that this is just meant to be an experience, a chance to be, to do, to feel.
Youâve got this! Keep going! [ð]
Cheers!
Mark A. Olson
President & CEO
Landstar Development Corporation
75 Barker Blvd.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3R 2C9
Office # (204) 953-1460
Cell # (204)771-7110
Email Address: molson@landstardev.commolson@landstardev.com
WEBSITE: http://www.landstardev.comhttp://www.landstardev.com/
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This is so very lovely, Mark and gives us so much to ponder! Words that stand out at first are “balance”, “grounding” and especially one of my personal favorites: “being grateful”🙏 It truly is a journey, isn’t it? 💝. . . And as one of my dear friends reminds me (her favorite quote!):
“You never get it done and you never get it wrong.”
So much in this passage to sit with and enjoy: thank you so much for taking time to share it with me!
All the best to you and to dear Leslie too!
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