“There are no fictions more fascinating than the ones we tell ourselves to get from day-to-day.” ~ Me
These are some of my fictions that were shattered this weekend during yoga teacher training:
I’ve never had a pranayama (yogic breathing) practice. I learned the anatomy of it; I read about the power of it in countless yoga journal articles; I even tried pranayama once and told myself it felt like nothing so I didn’t try it again. “Who needs to practice breathing?” I laughed to myself. And then today I experienced my nervous system shifting because my breath shifted.
I have weak arms and have told myself for years that I will never be able to practice arm balance poses or hand stands. And then today, I flew into handstand, assisted, but flying none the less.
I’ve never had a meditation practice. I’ve tried meditation a few times in my life and it’s never really worked for me. I just couldn’t get my mind to settle and to compensate for that failure, I told myself meditation was overrated. And then the quote above, and many more like it, have started to appear in my dreams now that I have to develop a meditation practice as part of my yoga teacher training.
It is incredible what stories we will tell ourselves to compensate for our own difficulties, stories that make it possible for us to avoid truth for a long time, sometimes for a lifetime. So next time I hear myself telling tales about my abilities, or rather my inadequacies, I am going to question them. Why is it that I can’t sit still? Why is it that practicing breathing sounds silly? Why do I think I have weak arms? All these fictions were in my mind, they were a matter of perspective that I created and then manifested in the world.
Sad, right? Not at all. The brilliant thing about fictions we tell ourselves is that we can change them, and change them quickly. We can make new ones, ones of strength and abundance and grace. We are enough, just as we are, in every way. We are all that is and all that is is us. And that’s no fiction at all – it’s just a simple, powerful truth.
The image above is not my own. It can be found here.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
“There are no fictions more fascinating than the ones we tell ourselves to get from day-to-day.” ~ Me
Christa Avampato 
This is amazing!! So proud of you – and I think there is something to be said about testing our “fictions” – so glad you got into handstand!
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Thanks, L! I couldn’t believe it! 🙂
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excellent work & thoughts christa. sometimes the fictions serve to protect us until we are ready to let go of them and become what we really are. as you astutely point out, we write our own stories. we possess the ability to change them. much love, friend!! xxoo
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I’m really astounded by how many fictions I have in this head of mine, and every time I turn around I’m shattering another one. It is a good feeling!! *hugs*
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