Creativity Information

We Tend To Make Up Our Own Truths: What Stories Are You Making Up?


Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that fits his reality. Oddly, more often than looking for truth, we tend to make up our own truths. Meet Roger & Elaine. Roger is attracted to Elaine and asks her out. She accepts; they have a good time. Later, he asks her out again, and again they enjoy themselves. After a while neither one of them is seeing anyone else.

One evening on the way home, a thought occurs to Elaine. She says, "do you realize that we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?" Silence. I wonder if that bothered him? Maybe he feels confined.

Maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him, Elaine thinks.

Roger, meanwhile, thinks, "six months?"

Elaine's thoughts continue. But I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship either. I wish I had more space, time to think about where we are going. Are we just going to keep seeing each other like this? Marriage? Children? Am I ready? Do I even know him?

Roger's thoughts are a little different: so that means ...let's see?February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's, which means I'm?Whoa! Way overdue for an oil change!

"He's upset," muses Elaine, "It's on his face." He wants more from our relationship, more intimacy, more commitment. That's why he's so reluctant to say anything about his own feelings. She gasps, mentally. He's afraid of being rejected! "And they are going to look at the transmission again, it's still not shifting right. They better not try to blame it on the cold weather this time. I can't believe it cost $600. I'll bet..."

He's angry -- I don't blame him. I'd be angry too. I feel so guilty for putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure if...

"They'll say it's only a 90 day warranty. I'll bet they'll tell me..."

I'm too idealistic, waiting for a knight on a white horse. I'm sitting beside a perfectly good person. I enjoy being with Roger, I care about him...he cares about me. And now he's in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl romantic...

"Warranty? I'll tell them what to do with their warranty. They can-"

"Roger," says Elaine, interupting Roger's mental tirade.

"Huh?" Says Roger, startled.

"Please don't torture yourself," she says, her eyes beginning to mist. "Maybe I should never have?..oh, I feel so awful?" Roger stays silent, but one eyebrow lifts slightly in puzzlement.

"I'm such a fool," Elaine sobs, "I mean, I know there's no knight. I really know that's silly. There's no knight and no horse."

"No horse?" Roger's eyebrow rises another quarter inch.

"You think I'm a fool, don't you?"

"No!" Says Roger, relieved.

"I need time," Elaine says.

"Yes," he says, after a brief pause. Elaine, moved, reaches to touch his hand.

"Oh Roger, do you really feel that way about me?"

"Yes indeed," says Roger hesitantly.

"Thank you, Roger," She says.

" Thank you," says Roger.

The next day, Elaine calls her best friend. Together they analyze the whole scenario in a marathon two hour conversation. A few days later, Roger plays racquetball with a mutual friend of their's. He pauses before serving and asks, "did Elaine ever own a horse?"

The ways that we see ourselves and the world at large is a function of the "stories" that we make up.

We need to challenge our views on things. After doing this, a whole new set of opportunities may emerge. Our stories lurk in the strangest places!

Eric Johnson is a regular contributor to the Investor's Value View Newsletter. To learn how to contact Mr. Johnson or to subscribe to the Investor's Value View Newsletter, visit http://www.valueview.net


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

Canvas for creativity
Journal Times, WI - 12 hours ago
BY PAUL SLOTH RACINE ? Juan Garza created his own rhythm as he sat sanding a chair last Tuesday out in front of the Racine Arts Council building, ...


Daily Star - Lebanon

Lebanese showcase their creativity at Beirut handicraft exhibition
Daily Star - Lebanon, Lebanon - 3 hours ago
... predominantly by the Future Movement. "Nobody is making profit here," she insisted. "It's really to encourage creativity among the people of Lebanon."


Baby orangutan?s tale inspired creativity in us
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI - 14 hours ago
Today we start a remarkable three-part series by reporter Jan Uebelherr about a baby orangutan named Mahal, the Milwaukee County Zoo?s newest attraction. ...


Celebration of creativity
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 17 hours ago
Even so, all indications are that the recently concluded celebration of creativity was a resounding success. Since almost all the events were free, ...
Kingston On The Edge Jamaica Observer
all 2 news articles


"Kung Fu Panda" prompts soul-searching in China
Reuters - 6 hours ago
Lu said the government was stifling the creativity of China's filmmakers, explaining how he had been asked to make an animated film for the Olympic Games, ...


Today, papers are obesssed with 'creativity' and 'innovation', but ...
guardian.co.uk, UK - Jul 5, 2008
Corporations love creativity. They say so all the time. Some, like the Chicago Tribune, even have a guy in charge of innovations, an officially certified ...


Brad Winter brings his creativity to Cappa center
Rapid City Journal, SD - Jul 5, 2008
?What I lack in color blindness, I guess I make up in creativity,? he says with a laugh when asked how he came up with the idea for the chair. ...


Creativity one cure for doctor shortage
London Free Press, Canada - Jul 5, 2008
By JOHN MINER A Middlesex group is tackling the rural doctor shortage with an unusual way of staffing a medical clinic to be built in Ilderton. ...


Middletown Summer Arts Program Keeps Children's Creativity Rolling
Hartford Courant, United States - Jul 5, 2008
This summer, Green Street Arts Center, at 51 Green St., is catering to that creativity with its Summer Arts and Media Technology program. ...


Chelsea Killed Mikel's Creativity - Odemwingie
Goal.com, Switzerland - Jul 4, 2008
The view expressed by the Lokomotiv Moscow striker is one shared by several Nigeria sports journalists, who believe thats , John's creativity that so ...

Creativity - Google News

home | site map
© 2006