Massage & Bodywork

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022

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What's your story? We all have a story or two to tell: the story of where we grew up, where we went to school, where we work. Stories of love, of friendship and success, and of heartache, betrayal, and loss. Stories define our role and relationship with the universe. And the stories we tell—especially the ones we repeat—directly impact what's happening in our lives right now. If you want to embrace a new experience of the world, it's time to author a new story. There are a thousand ways to tell a story. They might begin at the end, have a moral, build suspense, or be shocking, scary, or inspiring. Who doesn't love a good story? But are you the one telling your own story? And if not, who is? Sometimes we defer to others to tell our story for us. Parents, teachers, media, Facebook, Instagram, trends, fads, our peers—for better or worse, they tell us what we are good at, how we should look or act, what we should do, how we should live, and even who we should love. The most repetitive stories you tell yourself lay down the tracks of your greatest hits playlist, broadcasting the soundtrack of your life. You're not alone if your playlist is populated with stories of drama—chock-full of good guys, bad guys, and victims—just like a blockbuster movie or New York Times bestseller. Research in the field of narrative psychology has found that the stories we tell about ourselves are key to our well-being and hold powerful sway over our memories, behaviors, and even our identity. Knowing this, is the story you tell about yourself music to your ears? Or is there something you might like to edit, revise, rewrite, or perhaps tell in a new way? New Year, New Story The Transformational Power of How You Tell the Story of Your Life By Heath and Nicole Reed 82 m a s s a g e & b o d y wo r k j a n u a r y/ fe b r u a r y 2 0 2 2 CONSCIOUS STORYTELLING Consciously telling your own story inspires growth, change, and trust in who you are and what you can do. It helps you express yourself authentically and claim your personal power. Intentional storytelling generates greater perspective and awareness about ourselves, our relationships, and our personal impact. It delivers us from drama, feelings of being stuck, or being a victim of a cruel world. Conscious storytelling connects us with our creative energies in ways that generate new possibilities, positivity, and freedom— and inspires others to do the same. It doesn't matter how you tell your story—from the end or with or without a plot twist, as long as you are the one telling it (and not your habits, assumptions, or unconscious agreements). To create an intentional life—a life filled with successes, transformations, and dreams coming true— become the author of your own life. AUTHORING YOUR LIFE Telling conscious stories of what we love, appreciate, and authentically desire is integral to authoring our lives. And, as we turn toward this new year, we can draw inspiration from others—and most importantly, ourselves. Harness the collective, cosmic, and global energies of new-year magic to envision, reimagine, and materialize the story you most want to live into—one you would be proud to tell again and again. Maybe you'd like to tell the story of your miraculous body, your shining brilliance, or your incredibly good luck. Have you ever told the story of your genius? Your essence? The story of who you want to be? Perhaps now is the time: Are you ready for a new year and a new story? GREATEST HITS For inspiration, here's a sample of our own rewritten, transformed, and reimagined playlist of our new stories: The time Heath regrew his weak, collapsed arches. The time Nicole chose to give her body an appreciation instead of a criticism. The time Heath chose to ask for support— not because he needed it, just because he wanted it. The time Nicole chose to look for what was going well in a seemingly no-good situation. The time Heath said "no" and didn't feel bad. The time Heath scheduled me-time in the middle of a busy day. The time Nicole noticed her breath when she was scared. The list goes on. Feel-Good Stories Instead of replaying the sad oldies of complaint, blame, criticism, and judgment, you can make a new choice. Choose a new filter to see the world through, a filter of gratitude and appreciation, so essential skills | SAVVY SELF-CARE

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