People Become Their Stories

`People become the stories they hear
and the stories they tell.`
-- Ellie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate

  I adore this comment for its brevity and simplicity; in addition, it resonates with what I have found to be true about the quirky nature of individuals attempting to find comfort and security amongst our others.

   At a recent dinner party the discussion flittered to the question over why I had chosen to study psychology?  I said that initially I had hoped to take the fast track to getting certified as a counselor in order to help soldiers coming back from the war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD.  Alas, there is no such thing as fast-track when discussing the process of certifying counselors.  

  I revealed that mine was an education on not just techniques of the profession, but on the nature of its organization; a facet being the subtle control of becoming a practioners as important as developing a familiarity with helpful-healing techniques.  But as for today the topic is about the stories we each create.  I mentioned in the discussion that I came to appreciate all roads of seeking relief, begin with feeling fearful.  It develops into excessive worry, (anxiety disorders) or retreats into despair, (depression). Like it or not, those two represent the garden variety of most disorder afflictions that have sexy, performance unique names.  Certainly there are exceptions to the ultimate delineation of causes, be they chemical imbalances or environmental stress triggers that release disturbing DNA failsafe behaviors; it still remains a pretty dependable prediction that all roads lead from fear; just as all fear prompts us to solve. 

   The schools of concepts and propositions are replete with suggestions on why fear eclipses our better sense.  They have convincing evidence to support their preferred conclusions.  As for me, I found the skillful creation of identity is the most intriguing of escape plans; yet also the most difficult to keep up with. I think it depends on how complicated the details are, and of course, how divergent they might be from actual facts as to answering why life might get so difficult.  One thing is of certainty for me….the possibilities are endless.