Paint Your Narrative - Conquering Conflict and Reclaiming Your Power

Buenos Dias!

I’m in Mexico City at the Museo Mural Diego Rivera, standing in front of the fifty-foot-long mural Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park by Diego Rivera. My heart opens to the epic visual narrative in front of me.??

Rivera's masterpiece is not merely a historical record but a powerful commentary on the human condition. The mural portrays the struggles and glories of three eras of Mexican history - the Porfiriato dictatorship, the Conquest, and the revolution of 1910.?

Hundreds of people, including indigenous people, historical personages, children, bankers, police, mothers, the artist and his wife Frida Kahlo, politicians, and dictators, are depicted.

Over to the right, there's a revolutionary confrontation between an indigenous family and a police officer and a man shooting into the face of someone being trampled by a horse. The brutality takes me to the present-day domestic and international wars.

It’s a Shock

This is not an edited view of history to gain political advancement by Mexico’s leaders.?No, the artist shows us that Mexican history's struggles and glory involved inclusive participation from all segments of society.

Just as Rivera's mural captures the essence of Mexico's past, you, too, can create a visual tapestry that reflects the essence of your own life. Your mural will chronicle the defining moments, the people who have shaped you, and the relationships that have enriched your journey. It will testify to your unique experiences, joys and sorrows, connections and challenges.

To embark on this creative endeavor, I invite you to pause and reflect on your life's defining struggles and glories. Ask yourself:

1. Who are the people who have played pivotal roles in your life?

2. Which of them has tested your resilience and ignited your passions??

3. What is your relationship with them??

4. When did you meet them??

5. What is your earliest and most memorable memory of them?

6. What things did you do together?

7. What facts do you remember as accurate during your relationship?

8. Do you have a good memory of them??

• Did they smile and mean it and listen deeply when you spoke??
• Were they present to your needs??
• Did they speak the truth??
• Did you feel accepted and feel their compassion??
• Were they quick to forgive your transgressions and mistakes??
• Did they appreciate you?
• Were they plentiful with their praise??
• Did they respect you?
• Did they ask you questions or seek your advice?
• Were they genuinely interested in you and your values??
• Did they remain unbiased and give freely of themself??
• Did they express care or love for you?

9. Do you have a bad memory of them?

• Did they ignore you??
• Were they verbally abusive?
• Did they try to intimidate you??
• Did they spread rumors about you?
• Did they intrude on your privacy??
• Did they isolate or violate you?
• Did they deny your experience??
• Did they undermine you?
• Did they question your adequacy and commitment??
• Did they offer unsolicited advice?
• Did they impede your progress and success?
• Did they tell you you were wrong when you weren’t??
• Did they talk over or criticize you when you needed empathy??

10. What do you know now about their limitations?

• Just as you have flaws and imperfections, so do the people who shape our lives.?Do you recognize their limitations and challenges?
• Were they unwell??
• Were they having problems??
• Did they lack communication skills??
• Did they have the appropriate training for the work they did?
• Did they have familial, partnership, or community support??
• Were they experiencing loss, isolation, or grief??
• What were they most afraid could happen to them?

Good. Now, start writing.