Monster to Mentor (2)
A collaboration with Hazel Gale: Founder of the Mind Monster Project
My monster didn’t get a vote.
When I came across an online story about The Mind Monster Project, I reached out and connected with Hazel Gale, the project’s architect. She asked if I’d like to participate.
Yes, yes I would, my conscious risk taker in-training replied without hesitation.
My monster raised its eyebrows and asked, Are you sure you want to do that?
Meet Little Girl Me--my monster. Her limiting beliefs include, but are not limited to:
People do not want to be bothered = Bother no one
Conflict is scary = Agree with everyone
Independence is the ultimate success = Never ask for help
You’ll never be able to do that = Don’t try
Following the Meet Your Monster directions, I wrangled up some markers from our school supply drawer. Using a sepia, childhood photo as my guide, I drew the little girl who collected limiting beliefs like candy thrown at a parade.
Next, I answered the Mind Monster questions and created Little Girl Me’s narrative:
1. What kind of self-sabotage were you thinking of when drawing your “monster”? Doubt and lack of confidence.
2. If your “monster” had a name, what would it be? Little Girl Me
3. If your “monster” could speak, what would it say? "Are you sure you want to do that?"
4. Where does your monster live? In my mind, heart and memory
5. Where do you think it might have come from? Childhood experiences
6. How does it make you feel? Small, quiet, invisible--safe
7. If there was something you’d like to be able do with your monster in order to solve the problem, what would that be? Great question! Let's see, I've been holding her hand and coaxing her into the light for a few years now. She's becoming more cooperative.. :) We're taking baby steps.
I didn’t overthink the process of meeting my monster. I whipped the whole thing out in under 15 minutes. Creating a visual and narrative was a great step into self awareness, bringing unconscious patterns to light.
Here’s the link to Meet Your Monster. If you’d like to see examples other than mine before flexing your creative muscle, visit the Mind Monster Gallery. Ebony Buckle wrote and performed an incredible monster song.
C’mon—I know you want to meet your monster. Try it?
What a great reason to get out some crayons or write a poem. I’d love for you to share your monster with me—simply reply to this email. The connection could lead to growth for both of us. To engage directly with the Mind Monster Project, contact Hazel Gale via email: hazel@hazelgale.co.uk
I’ve been watching Little Girl Me in action and I’ll share a few of our stories to round out the week. We’re working together to set self sabotage and limiting beliefs aside.
I chose the monster metaphor to talk about this kind of thinking because - just like the creatures that lived under our childhood beds - limiting beliefs are not real. They’re just stories that we tell ourselves and then use as scripts to live our lives by. Of course, a sensible, adult part of us usually knows that our most damning self-judgements are imaginary. However, that doesn’t stop them from feeling like very real threats whenever they rear their ugly heads. ~Hazel Gale