Mythbuilding

Myth

What do you think of when you hear that word?

A fantasy world with dragons, the Chupacabra, or maybe that wind is caused by meteors passing the earth? (that last one might be real, tbh)

Sure, those are myths. 

But a myth can be any story that helps us provide an explanation for stuff that happens in our natural world, with human behavior, or in cultural activities.

It can also provide a backbone for ideals and behaviors that we want.

To put it simply, we humans are constantly seeking meaning, and myths help us to find it.

It’s like a super power. Myths can act as a lifeline to a higher plane. Want to hack your brain into a different way of acting? Use myths. 

Examples:

• We only use 10% of our brain. This is false. Studies have shown no evidence that there is 90% unused brain power. But it’s used to GREAT effect encouraging people to live up to their full potential.

• Sugar makes children hyper. Also false. Actual scientific studies have shown that sugar doesn’t cause children to be more hyper. BUT it’s an effective story that parents can tell themselves to keep from giving their kids too much sugar.

Carl Jung suggested that myths are so powerful because they resonate with deep psychological roots. 

He posited that they tap into the collective unconscious – part of the human psyche that not each of us alone experience, but is a shared experience among all people.

For instance, the mythic structure of the Hero’s Journey (a hero who goes on an adventure, faces a crisis, wins a victory, and then returns home transformed, e.g., Luke Skywalker) is seen in literally countless stories across different cultures and eras.

So, it’s about constructing a story that fits a narrative we recognize but haven’t individually realized yet.

My Grandpa was a master at this. 

He would always say things like: “We Rays are different. Everybody else wants to be us.” or “We work harder than everyone else, it’s in our DNA.” or “You’ve got that Ray strength.”

This was extremely powerful because I believed it. 

And because I believed it, it gave me the confidence to take risks and be in rooms that I didn’t necessarily belong in, but believed I did. It made me work harder, which by default granted me opportunities. A self-fulfilling prophecy. 

So, I’m a huge believer in mythbuilding.

Recently, I’ve been taking a cue from my Grandpa and utilizing mythbuilding in my life. Here are a few ways:

• Building my own myths for my kids. My daughter is 11, and struggling with anxiety, not fitting in, etc. Pre-teen stuff. So, I’ve been employing the time-tested Ray myth that my Grandpa used on me to give her the confidence she needs to get through school. 

• Using personas. As I work toward my dream life, I’m building myths about who I am and why I should act a certain way. Visualizing myself as these mythical people who have the habits to make dreams reality has been a life hack. 

So, at the end of the day, don’t sleep on myths.

They’re not just for dragons anymore.  

Till tomorrow,

Swanagan

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