If I just had a different thought back then. by Philip Martin
Some very profound moments in life are also profoundly simple and yet, life changing. We proceed through life having our own unique experiences and all the experiences and our associated feelings and meanings, make up the story of our life.
Here today, it can feel as if we are a product of our story, of all that has occurred before this moment. If life has been hard and there has been much pain and suffering, it seems as if we can do nothing about it, as what has already occurred, has happened and therefore unchangeable. And as we are a product of all this unchangeable history, we feel powerless to have a better/happier life now and in the future.
But we can have the realization, that in a previous event, maybe even in our earliest memory, if we had thought, a different thought, at that time, then we would not be suffering as we are now. Life would be different! I would still be me, but my experience of life would be much better. If I had just placed a different meaning on that negative experience/event, then I would not have all this suffering.
We feel powerless today and we feel attached to all that pain and suffering for it is ours. It has become part of our story, our identity and who we are. And so, as well as carrying all that past pain, as a burden, we also have the pain – that we are powerless to change today.
But are we? For we are suffering today, only because we are living the story, that is based on that early meaning, the meaning that we placed on that event as a young child. Feel what it would feel like if you place a different meaning on that event, as an adult I am sure you can think of plenty of other meanings. Try something simple, such as “I am here” or “I am alive” or something that you feel will empower you, such as “I am strong” or “I am a magnificent human being”.
The physical events of our history are fixed and unchangeable, but the meanings we apply are not. We live in pain because we continue to accept those (painful) meanings. But what if you have a different thought and place a different meaning to that event?
You do have the power to change your story, now! and how does your story relate to your cancer?