The Story You Buy Into – Two Stories

I mentioned recently about how an incident got the power of the story to my attention in a really distinct way. There were a couple of stories it reminded me of that people buy into.

———

Story One: Glass Half Full

Nothing is perfect. Yet look at the tremendous strides we have made over time. There was a time when so many diseases afflicted people around the world and life expectancy was low, but now thanks to advances in technology developments have been made to combat these. Where once borders were barriers to cooperation and collaboration, the age we live in gives so much opportunity for information and innovation to be shared now more than ever before. Evidence is there that when we come together for the cause and show how generous and compassionate we can be it can make the difference for individuals, communities and even entire countries.

If you have the will and the mind there is so much that can be achieved. Your voice can be heard across the globe, your ideas can make a difference. Whether it is a work of art or providing clean water for a village in the poorest part of a Third World country, there is so much that is being done to alleviate the suffering of others and raise the aspirations of people to just how great life can be. As we appreciate diversity and human rights so we develop the foundation on which the progress evident through the centuries can build to a better and brighter tomorrow.

——

Story Two: Glass Half Empty

Nothing is perfect. The state of the human condition has only been further exposed as time has got on. People have not got any better. If anything the age of enlightenment only shone the light on the corrupt, corrupting and corruptible nature of peoples. This is patently obvious in the grab for physical resources or political power and influence. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The moment anyone comes up with an idea to address the injustices, another three people will come up with a way to undermine those efforts and prove them to be largely futile.

The institutions that are said to look out for us, defend for us and give us the ability to provide for ourselves are the very same institutions that are keeping us in a state of risk, instability and uncertainty. It’s like a cycle of dependency where they point out circumstances that bring us back to them for help and the more they highlight them with one hand, is the more they provoke those circumstances with the other hand. Trust cannot be found anywhere and experiences of anything good and worthwhile in life prove to be fleeting and all too illusory when the reality checks come our way.

——

It is not a case of either/or when it comes to stories like this. There are other competing stories on a small and a large scale that make a grab for your attention and investment. As you buy into these stories so your attitudes and actions are shaped by them. Two people in the same circumstance can have a very different outlook all because of the story they buy into.

From time to time it’s worth taking a step back and checking the story we buy into. Checking it to see if there’s any truth in it and if there’s anything untrue about it. Checking it to see how it defines progress, success and joy in life. Checking it to see if it really is the sort of story we would want others to buy into.

It’s worth also finding out what story I buy into …

(Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden