Narratives, the story lines that dictate what we accept as truth or toss out as trash. Narratives are powerful, they are essentially beliefs. These narratives filter everything that comes into your brain, if it aligns with your narratives it accepts it as truth and lets it stay. If an experience, knowledge, or any life circumstance does not align with your narrative then it kicks it out as trash.
What this means is that if you believe you’re not good enough then anything that comes into your life that strengthens this narrative is more easily accepted than the things that come into your life that tell you that you are good enough and worthy.
Hope Is Here
We were created in such a way that we can reset our beliefs and re-write our narratives. Even though sin is our default nature, and it is what separates us from our true, empowered, purposed self. God knew exactly what He was doing. He created our brains with such precision that neuroscientists are constantly discovering new aspects, and abilities. Ultimately, when Jesus came to take our place on the cross He freed us from the bondage of sin, making this aspect of our freedom more tangible, more transformational. It can happen in an instant, at the name of Jesus.
Yes, supernatural deliverance is available, and yes, we get to learn what we can do to take care of and steward our brain and our whole temple. There is a Kingdom Principle at work here, Living in the Tension between the Two.
Here are a few scripture for you on this subject!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:21
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:2
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. - Matthew 28:18
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. - Romans 8:11
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. - John 14:12-14
Now What
So now that we know that God has freed us from the bondage of our chaotic and limiting narratives, and designed up with the ability to change our beliefs, we can move forward with ways to adjust them and step into our true, empowered, and purposed selves.
So we began last week looking at our narratives. Learning to hear what they are by listening to the thoughts that come up. So now the question is what do you do with those thoughts? You’ve begun to listen, but how do you take that listening and turn it into something that can transform your life?
Have you ever heard of storyboards?
Empowered Motherhood Storyboard
A very basic understanding is that a storyboard is where scenes are drawn out on small cards and pinned to a larger board in chronological order. What this does is take the larger picture of the whole movie, play, show, ect. and breaks it down into smaller pieces. Then those who are working on this project can look at the smaller moments in more detail and make any revisions that need to be made.
This is a tool that you can use for your Empowered Motherhood, to look at and revise the narratives that are running your life.
Imagine with me, your life is a full scale movie! Cinematic in every sense! Your life is felt deeply, your life is heard, you can even smell the aromas around you at any given moment. There are ups and there are downs, there are moments where it looks like all is lost and there are moments where God delivers you for all the world to see! And then another fall, another mess up, another time where your human nature has failed you. This is your life. Where is the story at this moment?
Each of those scenes have been narrated, and that story stored away in your brain. There is an underlying theme, and underlying message to your life. That one thread that is woven throughout all of those scenes. Have you figured it out yet?
This is what you will use a storyboard to help you with.
Ideally you will use physical pictures and a real board, but I completely understand that they may not be possible, because who has crafts stuff just laying around?! So we will use the next best thing, PINTEREST!
So I created this board as an example. Don’t think too much about this. Get out of your head and use this to let your narrative get out of your head as well. Make your story board.
Find the pictures that move your soul and resonate with the moments of your life. Don’t overthink it, ignore the irrelevant words on the pictures or in the descriptions.
Pin them, or post them to your story board.
Go through and add your words to the scenes. If using Pinterest select the edit pin button and then add a note to yourself. You can also opt in for journaling. If you’re able to create an actual story board, add it in.
While adding words, remove the pressure. You don't have to have it all figured out in one moment. Add the one or two words or phrases that come up, then move on. Come back to it as you discover more.
When you feel complete in this, sit it down and move on with your day. You will continue to come back to your story board as we journey through this empowered process of identifying your narrative.
Just in case you like paper and to be able to touch and feel and all those things, I made this print off for you!
Continue The Process
Throughout the week, your job will be to listen a little closer to the thought that you’re thinking. With this awareness you will write those thoughts down and place them on your storyboard where you feel God showing you that they go. Continue to develop this, adding thoughts, words, feeling, what you’re saying about yourself and your life.
You may find yourself spending some time with one scene of the narrative, prayerfully remembering, thinking, and discovering. There will be a moment when He reveals it to you, when He opens your eyes to see that common thread. When He does, write it down!
Pro Tip
Use your aromatherapy products to help you in this process. Essential oils, when they are properly grown, harvested, and distilled, contain the living essence of the plant they came from. Plants are living, they have intelligence, they naturally produce chemicals, and many other things. So a pure essential oil contains the same intelligence DNA of the plant.
They can cleanse the receptor sites of cells, erase incorrect information in the DNA or cellular memory, and reprogram God’s original plan into the cellular intelligence. In the same way, essential oils can do all of this for us. This is a beautiful design given to us by God!
So don’t cheap sell yourself or cut yourself off completely, get a great set of essential oils and use them to help you as you become aware of your narratives, and then as you align them to God’s purpose for your life. (Stay tuned for that post!)
You’ve Got This Mama!
You are on your way to re-writing the narratives that are running your life! You are going to be amazed at the freedom and joy you find as you walk in heaven’s empowered purpose for your life!
I can’t wait to hear from you! Comment below or post in our Empowered Motherhood Community Group. You can also share on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook! Use #EmpoweredMotherhood and tag me @BrennaStanford
This is a movement that God has commissioned us with, let’s share and encourage and inspire others to join us!
I am going to send out a series of emails and texts covering this topic and some of the things you can do to live Empowered. If you’d like to receive those for free, join in on it here!
To Your Empowered Motherhood!
- Brenna stanford
Get texts from me! Text "Hey there" to me at (918) 322-7477
Make sure to jump over into Empowered Motherhood and share with us your experience through these three phases! You may also leave comments here on the blog!
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