Monday, October 22, 2018

Work and Identity

The idea of 'Narrative Therapy' is to identify a person's values, skills and knowledge so that they can live their values effectively. Where there are obstacles, they are assisted in 'co-authoring a new narrative'. I don't like the idea that work is the driving force of the majority of our narratives. This is because we live hand-to-mouth. Most of our story ends up being defined by how we make money. Money is made by solving problems. Problems need to be clearly articulated, and quantified. Counted. But not everything that counts can be counted. Part of co-authoring a new narrative involves gaining Financial Security. If you are able to separate your identity from your work, then the storyline is freed to explore far more exciting paths. An Engine is an investment that earns more than you spend. An Engine frees the hand from the mouth. If you are able to build an Engine, then what you do with your time doesn't have to fit into the constraining framework of dollars and cents. An Engine allows you to re-author your life. The motto of narrative therapy is "The person is not the problem, the problem is the problem". We are not our jobs, the job is the job.

Who is the author of your story?

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