As a bonus for anyone keen to think further about the relevance of the narrative metaphor, I’m including Maggie Carey’s Keynote: The Narrative Metaphor in current times – How is it standing up?
What are your thoughts and questions after watching Maggie’s keynote? Do you have any illustrations from your own work and life that might further show the relevance.
QUESTION: I just finished watching Maggie’s presentation on “The Narrative Metaphor in current times- How is it standing up?” as part of lesson 3(b) of Introduction to Narrative Therapy Course. As a student, I have encountered a question on my path ? In Maggie’s lecture, Maggie mentions based on scientific research that the negative emotions of fear are stronger neurons in the brain given our primordial instinct of self-preservation. She thereafter goes on and mentions by the example of a story (Amy’s story) how to thicken the neurons of positivity by enriching with time, context and other details the positive story. Because Maggie imported neural science into the lecture, I could not stop to pause and ask if it is scientifically proven that the positive narrative can thicken and strengthen the neurons of positivity so much so that the positive neurons can overpower and oust the negative and strong neurons holding fear and aversion that the primordial human consciousness has held on to since time immemorial?????? I know these negative emotions are required for our survival but I am talking specifically in the context of where we limit or restrict ourselves unnecessarily, because of overthinking or worrying unrealistically?????