Shifting the Narrative

It may be that I just had my birthday. It may be that the winter seems unending. It may be that the news is wearing me down. It may be that my resolutions from January are long-forgotten and I feel caught in a cycle of incompetence. But I have been telling myself for the last few days that I need to change the narrative that keeps running through my head. Somehow I need to shift from grief to gratitude, from disappointment to delight, from duty to opportunity.

I am not sure how to do this but I feel like many aspects of my life need a shift from the negative to the positive. And it is not just me. I think our country needs a shift. The recent Teacher’s Strike has me down – tempers are heating up and respect is being jeopardized on every side – and there are several sides to the story. Likewise, the protesting regarding the construction on the Wet’suwet’en Territory feels like a long way from reconciliation. In each of these cases the arguments get reduced to money and costs and economy but the issue is much bigger and deeper than that. We need to shift the narrative. It is not just about money, there is a bigger story here.

I am trying to figure out how to shift my own narrative so I can’t begin to shift the province’s or the country’s. That takes the imagination of many and the concerted effort of all to make a difference. But I am still trying to figure out my own shifting and here is what I have come up with. Step back. Wait. Listen. Ponder. Purposefully say “no” to one narrative and “yes” to another. And do not letting another’s negativity prejudice my own thinking.

As a disciple of Christ I have a great role model. Jesus spent his life shifting the narrative. His many encounters, maybe even his every encounter, changed how people thought or acted. It wasn’t easy for him. He ran into conflict. He was doubted. He was laughed at. He made people angry. And when those things happened he went away to a quiet place and prayed to renew his strength. He was steadfast even when it wasn’t popular. I am committed to shifting my narrative and gratitude, delight and opportunity will be my way of being … as best I can.