Stepping out of the play
I was having a discussion with someone the other day, and we were both guffawing about the conversations we have in our heads with other people.
You know, when you find yourself running through imaginary situations, where you really TELL someone something. Or you re-run a conversation where you said all the things you didn't say. Or you anticipate and rehearse a conversation you may be about to have.
You create a drama in your head, like a play or a film, where you are the central character.
It can be useful to see where you could have done something differently, or be ready for awkward questions- in a job interview, for instance. Much of our rumination can become unhealthy, and keep us stuck in an emotional space, when we would be better off moving on.
If you make a list of your top ten inner conversations, your personal movies, you probably find they are quite limited, re-visiting favourites; or the top spot being taken by a new arrival- some recent or impending event.
What you may notice is the power these imaginary dramas have over us- the emotions they evoke, the physical sensations, even. These can be pleasurable, in the instance of fantasies where it all goes your way, or intensely uncomfortable when anxiety takes over and the worst case scenario plays out.
Remember, these are only stories we are making up. We can step off the stage. They are not real. Look around you and anchor yourself to the present moment. Focus on what you see, hear and feel. Breathe.
