Project Vision 21

I recently met, entirely by chance, a young man who, shortly after beginning a casual conversation, indicated to me that he had already abandoned a certain limiting belief to which he had been attached since childhood. But before I could say anything it was clear that this young man had replaced his belief with another that was so limiting to the previous one.

I know very well that people often become attached to a particular narrative or story that offers them a certain understanding of the world that allows them to feel safe and even in control. But when those narratives are challenged (whether by changes in the person's life or changes in the world), many people prefer not to abandon that narrative, even if it is ineffective.

The alternative would be to embrace and activate a more flexible and fluid approach, that is, a narrative that allows and facilitates access to adjacent reality and to new possibilities, and even to a new future, what is known as quantum narrative (paraphrasing David Boje).

But this alternative of activating a quantum narrative is almost impossible if someone is so attached, so immersed within their own narrative that they consider that this narrative constitutes the entirety of reality, of the world, of history and even of the possibilities that that person has for himself in the present and in the future.

It is obvious that this is precisely the effect of limiting narratives: to trap us within our own fiction through a web of mental representations of the characters, events and values ​​that define the world presented by those narratives. But sooner or later every narrative faces cognitive or emotional challenges that force us to rethink them.

Unfortunately, however, instead of recognizing the limitations of their current narrative and exploring new ways of thinking and acting to make sense of their past, present, and future experiences, many people cling to a limiting narrative simply because they already know it or They replace it with another narrative that is equally limiting, but “new.”

This pattern of exchanging limiting narratives without ever arriving at a quantum narrative or story (that is, uncertain, ambiguous and complex, but always full of possibilities) reflects a fundamental human tendency to seek certainty and stability in the face of uncertainty and change, but rejecting the opportunity to mature as a person in the face of that challenge.

The reasons for this resistance to letting go of a limiting narrative and activating a quantum narrative are complex and rooted in the psychological and cognitive dynamics of narrative engagement, thus exceeding the limits of this brief commentary.

Whatever the case, it is clear that it is very difficult to abandon those stories and beliefs acquired uncritically during the formative years of childhood and adopt a more open and multifaceted understanding of our lives.

But to move toward a deeper understanding of the world and ourselves that is what we should do to reflect the true nature of our lives and reality.