Value

Value:

there's value in our stories, or perhaps it's better thought that our stories add value to the world by virtue of their content, and that it's left to our consideration as to what exactly we wish to tell and how much of our belief is actually invested. Everything's a story. Yet most, maybe all, are left unexamined and simply believed by repetition or that they were told be trusted sources. A story isn't necessarily fiction, but it's never the full version of any truth, only partially so, and altered through the filters of our beliefs and the faith we have in those who first told them. We've inherited most of our stories, parents, teachers, clergy and media, have all told us how the world should be. 

and we've mostly believed them all. 

so first we examine what's meant by stories - and for this we return to the inherent emptiness of our lives in terms of our values, that everything first exists without a story told, and even now every story is known through our relation with concepts and objects of the world. Somethings only exist as stories and once examined are seen in truer light. Instead of examples here it's best left for our own inquiry,  an individual and personal examination of what we think is true - and that's with the easy process of simply asking ourselves about the stories we tell of anything or anyone, and if we know them to be absolutely true and how we know for certain that it's so. 

it's being honest with and about ourselves.

and with this in mind we are free to dismiss stories that no longer serve us, some that never did, nor ever will, and now create our own personal myths, self creation stories that add value to our lives. Or perhaps we could remain as story-less as possible, totally free of investment of beliefs and see the world through our original view of innocence and purity. Maybe. I'm not sure of that's an option for most of us, or even really necessary. Just knowing that the world exist through stories seems to be enough to offer freedom. My own belief is that adding value is important, that life is best lived with certain meaning and that stories serve this purpose well. Of course that's another story, and one I have chosen to tell myself. I have that freedom. But only because I recognize first that it's a story within endless and ever larger stories told about the world. 

in this light - my story now has value. 

if only to myself, and for however long that it's believed. 

~

Peace, Eric