narrative validity

[metatait]

I have an immense respect for other people's narratives and beliefs, regardless if they can be proven objectively true, because what is most important is the way that people live based on these stories.

Comments

[poposix]

I had the opportunity to study with Curanderas in Oaxaca. One of the illnesses described by the villagers is called Susto (fear). It can make someone very ill..tired, depressed, pained, headaches. It is cured by doing a cleansing..involving an egg, feathers and drawn symbols. The cure works, the illness is real.
I often wish that I could really see my own stories….that I could observe myself through other eyes. It is difficult to make positive changes without this objectivity.

[metatait]

One of the things that I've found helps is consistantly paying attention to your stories and beliefs for a long time, and contrasting what you hold to be true to what other people might believe. Perhaps the clearest place where I've been able to do this is in recording my dreams, with a near religiosity at times, and trying to weave the disparate symbols into somewhat of a cohesive narrative. Also really writing out memories from my childhood (ala Proust) in order to see where these symbols may have come from originally.