Telling the Story that Feels Best to Reclaim Your Power

Jon Rasmussen's YouTube video, "Telling the Story That Feels Best," discusses the power of narrative in shaping one's reality. He argues that the stories we tell ourselves about events, especially negative interactions, significantly impact our psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. Rasmussen suggests focusing on breathwork to manage immediate reactions and then reframing negative narratives to empower oneself rather than remaining a victim. This reframing, he explains, involves recognizing personal reactions and transforming the narrative to focus on self-growth and reclaiming one's power. Ultimately, the video promotes self-awareness and personal responsibility in shaping one's experience.

To learn more about the extraordinary teachings of Dale Allen Hoffman, please visit his website:  https://daleallenhoffman.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey everyone, ready for another deep dive? You know, I love when you guys send in stuff, and this one is really interesting. It's this YouTube video all about the power of storytelling. And it really got me thinking, you know, how much we shape our own realities.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Um, it features this shamanic teacher, John Rasmussen, speaking from like this really beautiful fall setting in New Jersey. Have you seen this one?

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Yeah, I did. It's pretty cool how he kind of blends together ancient shamanic wisdom with like modern psychology.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Yeah, I know, right? And he really stresses how the stories we tell ourselves, like even the little everyday ones, can have this like huge impact on our lives. It's kind of crazy.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

It is. And the core message of the video is that we really do become the stories we tell ourselves. And not just like mentally, but physically and uh even spiritually. It made me think about have you ever noticed how when you like dwell on something negative, it just seems to make things worse.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Oh my God, all the time. Like if someone at work says something that kind of rubs me the wrong way, I swear I end up just stewing over it like the whole entire day.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Yeah, totally. And Rasmussen actually suggests that these internal narratives that we have can like manifest in our bodies, even affecting stuff like our blood pressure and stress levels.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Yeah. And he even draws a connection between our breath and our spirit. Um, he actually references this guy Dale Allen Hoffman's work.

SPEAKER_00 1:21

Okay, now I'm curious. What is the connection between breath and spirit? I'm not familiar with uh Hoffman's work at all.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Aaron Powell Yeah. So Hoffman describes the spirit as like a vital force, you know, like the thing that really animates us. And he emphasizes that our breath is like the most direct link to this force. It's like our breath is almost like a bridge between our physical and spiritual selves.

SPEAKER_00 1:43

Aaron Powell So by controlling our breath, we can actually like influence our spirit.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

Aaron Powell Yeah, in a way, yeah. Like when we get stressed or angry, our breathing gets all like shallow and erratic, right? But if we practice conscious breathing, we can actually calm our nervous system down and regulate our emotions. It's a way to like interrupt that automatic stress response and kind of regain control.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

So instead of totally spiraling when my coworker makes like a snarky comment, you know, I can use my breath to just kind of hit the pause button.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

Aaron Powell Exactly. It gives you the space to choose a different response. And it's not about denying what happened or anything. Right. It's more about shifting the story you're telling yourself about what happened. So instead of being a victim of the circumstance, you become an empowered observer.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

Ooh, that is a powerful shift. Yeah. And I love how he emphasizes that it's not about changing the event itself, it's changing the story you tell yourself about it. So instead of thinking, ugh, that person ruined my day, you know, it becomes this experience taught me something about myself.

SPEAKER_01 2:45

Aaron Powell Exactly. It's about reframing the situation. Yeah. You know, moving from a place of fear to a place of self-love and growth.

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Aaron Ross Powell I'm also really drawn to like the visuals in the video, like all that gorgeous New Jersey scenery.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:57

It's almost like a reminder to find the beauty, even when you're facing challenges, you know?

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Aaron Powell That's such a good observation. The video seems to suggest that just like we can choose to like focus on that beautiful scenery, you know, we can also choose to focus on the positive aspects of any situation. Right. It's not about like pretending everything is perfect. It's just about finding that perspective that empowers you.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

This is like so insightful. It's really making me think about how I react to all those little everyday annoyances. Totally. So how do we actually apply this idea of reframing like to our daily lives?

SPEAKER_01 3:34

Aaron Powell That's a great question. That leads us to the practical side of things. Reframing is a skill. And just like any other skill, it takes practice. The first step is just awareness, you know? Yeah. Noticing those automatic negative stories that pop up in your head when something challenging happens.

SPEAKER_00 3:49

So being aware of the story, like we're telling ourselves that's the first step. What comes after that?

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Well, well, next we need to actually like create the space to choose a different story. And that's where breath work can be super helpful.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

So we notice the negative thought and then just like take a deep breath.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

It's um yeah, kinda, but it's more than just taking a deep breath. It's really about using your breath to calm your nervous system and shift your uh emotional state.

SPEAKER_00 4:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:13

And there's actually lots of different breathing techniques that you can try. Some of them focus on like slowing down your breath, others emphasize certain rhythms or patterns.

SPEAKER_00 4:22

Do you have like a favorite technique that you use?

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yeah. Actually, there is one that I find really helpful. It's called box breathing.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

Yeah. It's uh it's actually really simple. It basically involves inhaling for a count of four, holding for four, exhaling for four, and then holding again for four. Aaron Powell Okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

So that's that sounds pretty easy, actually. I've heard of box breathing before, but I never really thought about using it like in this way.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Yeah. It's funny because it's uh it's often used by like Navy SEALs, you know, to stay calm under pressure.

SPEAKER_00 4:53

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

But um, anyone can use it to like regulate their emotions and create a sense of mental clarity.

SPEAKER_00 5:00

Aaron Powell So like if I'm feeling stressed out, you know, because I'm stuck in traffic, I could use box breathing to like create space for a different story.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

Exactly. Instead of thinking, oh, I'm gonna be late, you know, you might shift to okay, this is an opportunity to relax and listen to some music.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

Right. It's almost like we're training our minds to just automatically like look for the silver lining in any situation.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

But what about situations that are like genuinely really difficult? I mean, is it always possible to find like a positive spin?

SPEAKER_01 5:27

That's a really good question. And it's important to acknowledge that like reframing isn't about denying or suppressing difficult emotions. Yeah. It's not about, you know, toxic positivity or anything like that. Right. Sometimes it's totally okay to feel sad or angry or disappointed. But even in those moments, we can still choose the story we tell ourselves about those emotions.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

What do you mean by that? Could you give me an example?

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Sure. So let's say you experience a loss or um, you know, some kind of setback. Instead of telling yourself I'm a failure, you know, you could reframe it as, okay, this is a really painful experience. But I'm gonna learn and grow from it.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

Aaron Powell So it's it's acknowledging the feeling, but not letting it like totally define us.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Exactly. It's about finding a narrative that empowers you to actually move through the experience and come out, you know, stronger on the other side.

SPEAKER_00 6:19

So reframing is like way more than just looking on the bright side.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

It's it's a way to cultivate resilience and like find meaning even when times are tough.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Aaron Powell That's exactly right. It's about taking ownership of your narrative and choosing a story that really supports your well-being and your growth.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Aaron Powell It sounds like such a powerful tool, you know, for just navigating life's ups and downs. But you mentioned earlier that it's a skill. Does it like does it take a long time to get good at reframing?

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Aaron Powell Well, like any skill, it just takes practice. You know, the more you consciously choose to reframe your thoughts, the easier it becomes. And as you practice, you'll start to notice like patterns in your thinking. You'll become more aware of the stories that you, you know, habitually tell yourself. Right. And then you'll start to have more choices about how to respond to those stories.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Yeah, that's I love that. It reminds me of that saying the mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

That's a perfect analogy. Through practices like reframing and and breastwork, you know, we can reclaim that role as the master of our minds rather than letting it kind of control us.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

It's true. That this has been like so eye-opening. Are there other techniques besides breath work that can help with with reframing?

SPEAKER_01 7:31

Oh, yeah, absolutely. There are so many different approaches to reframing. Some people find journaling to be really helpful, you know, and a way to process their thoughts and emotions allows them to like get everything out of their head and onto paper. Yeah. Which can often bring a lot more clarity and perspective.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

Aaron Powell So you could like write about a difficult experience and then try to find a new way of looking at it.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

Exactly. Another technique that can be helpful is um cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

This type of therapy focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

Aaron Powell So therapists could help you like see how your thoughts are influencing your emotions and behaviors, and then help you develop, you know, new, more helpful ways of thinking.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Exactly. And it's not just about therapy either. There are tons of CBT workbooks and and resources online that can guide you through the process.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

This is such a rich and valuable like conversation. But before we get, you know, too deep into CBT, I kind of want to circle back to the video that that you sent in.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:31

There was something about John Rasmussen that really struck me.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Oh yeah. I noticed that too. What was it?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

I it's hard to explain. He just seemed like so calm and grounded. You know, even when he was talking about, you know, challenges and stuff, there's just this sense of peace about him.

SPEAKER_01 8:47

Yeah, you're right. I think it really reflects the transformative power of reframing. Like when we can consciously choose our narratives, you know, we cultivate that inner peace and stability.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Like he's he's reached this place of like self-acceptance where he can just acknowledge the ups and downs of life without letting them, you know, define him.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

Yeah, it's almost like he's not really attached to a particular outcome or anything, but he's just focused on growth and learning through the process.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

I love that. So inspiring. Um okay, to bring this back to our listener, what's like the key takeaway here? What do we really want them to walk away with?

SPEAKER_01 9:23

I think the most important message is that we really do have the power to shape our own experiences by consciously shaping the stories we tell ourselves. And it doesn't mean denying reality or anything. It's just about choosing a narrative that empowers us to move forward, you know, with clarity, resilience, and self-love.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

Aaron Powell That's a great way to put it. It's not about pretending everything's perfect, it's about finding that strength within to navigate like whatever comes our way.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

Exactly. And remember, it's a practice. Some days will be easier than others, but with, you know, consistent effort, you can really shift your mindset and create a more empowering reality for yourself.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Aaron Powell This has been such a fascinating deep dive. I feel like I've learned so much. I hope our listener has too.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Yeah, me too. It's been great exploring these ideas with you.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

So as you go about your day, think about a recent challenging event. What story are you telling yourself about it? Is it a story that empowers you or holds you back? And how could you reframe that narrative to create a more positive and empowering experience? Remember, you have the power to choose your story. And as John Rasmussen showed us, that choice can make all the difference.