I got a wild hair to make a belated birthday present for my nephew recently. He’d just turned eight, and as my sister reports, spends most of his time in Imaginary Land. He has a highly active brain, evidenced by his precocious use of language from a young age, and his astute observations. He’s sharp, and learning who he is by living a mythical life.

I trolled through some old funky treasures and collected a few, then found a round metal box, glued a big “S” on the front and typed up a list of its contents:

 Sheldon’s Super Power Pack

 • Non-Moving Watch for Time Travel (bought in Hungary in the late 1980’s)

• Indian 10 paise coin for Great Wealth Both Inner and Outer (from trips to India in the 1990’s)

 • Amulet with secret script for hearing Quiet Invisible Voices 

 • Smiley face pin for Mood Uplifting for Self and Others

 • Copper wire wound around shale for Magic Electricity Conduction

 • Twisted metal ring — you decide what this is for

 • Real Buffalo hair for being Big, Strong, Unafraid, Calm, and Gentle.

 

My sister told me the story: 

Sheldon opened this strange present and said, “What? An old watch?” 

Frowned.

“What is all this stuff?” 

His mother said “I think there is a paper to read here, about what’s in this box.”

She and Sheldon went through the contents, reading about each one. His eyes widened, his imagination kicked in. This was a gift right down his alley!

I soon received a text from my sister’s phone number: 

This is Sheldon. I am so so so so so so so so so so grateful for the gift. 👍🏻 😊 🎁

 That’s TEN so’s — easily a record for any text I’ve ever received.

 * * * * *

The change in his perception of what this present contained after my sister read the list of its contents struck me. Is this not a most amazing and clear illustration of what we are built to do as human beings?

WE MAKE MEANING.

You may not be eight years old anymore, or hide in closets from the Evil Mancor whom you are fighting for the gold ring of Sumach. At least not overtly.

But for sure you are walking around every moment, making meaning of the world you perceive. Reading the news, you are making meaning of someone else’s meaning-making of the world.

Have you ever wondered about the meaning you are making every moment? 

What is the meaning of the store clerk’s sad eyes? What is the meaning of getting a call from an old friend just after they popped into your head? What is the meaning of not getting the job you applied for? Why are you making the meaning you do?

We are all making meaning through stories constantly. Our stories reflect our inner world. They were our ego-forming responses to early life experiences. Our stories reinforce our sense of self, and govern how we act.

Do you know someone who seems to see the world as full of hurt and needy people who must be protected? Do you know someone who seems to see the world as a playground full of fun things to do and achieve and there’s not enough time to do it all? Do you know someone who seems to see the world as vengeful scary, and they must defend themselves and attack others to be safe? Do you know someone who seems to see the world as an endless curious puzzle to be explored and explained?

The meaning we make helps us define ourselves and our lives. For most of us, by the time we become adults, the meaning we make is reflexive and unconscious. We believe how we see the world is how the world actually is. But this is not true. 

As writer and artist Anïas Nin said, “We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.”

We become the meaning we have made, and the stories of meaning we tell to ourselves and others over a lifetime.

Of course Sheldon knows he is making up a world when he is in Imaginary Land. He is creatively choosing the meaning he is making and the stories he is living. What could possibly be more fun?

The wild thing about our human meaning-making process is that we do choose the meaning we make. If we recognize that we are making up all the meaning we live by, if we can step outside the very habitual conclusions we come to about what things mean, we can begin to consciously change our world.

We can choose meaning-making that makes us feel delicious, safe and worthy. People do it all the time. 

But it is not so easy for grown ups. 

First we have to be aware of these mechanics of meaning-making — that we have a choice to create the world we want to live in. And then we have to practice like the dickens to re-wire the pathways of our brains and not slip into old ruts of thinking. 

But we can do it if we really want to. We can each choose what is in our own Super Power Pack.

Imagine that daily you’re making this meaning: 

• I am a precious being that is an unseparable part of the Mystery of this Creation.

• I am loved deeply and are innocent of any real wrongdoing. 

• My task is to love, because that is what I am. Love the trees, love the rain, love my parents, love strangers, love cities and the news and the darkness and destruction too. 

• I was born to bring important gifts to the world that are much needed. 

• I am never alone.

 If making meaning in this way makes you feel great, it is because this meaning is what is really true.

Sheldon’s Imaginary Land is a wonderful lesson for us all. We think we grow out of playing make believe, but we don’t, really. 

Thankfully, we all have Super Power Packs. What is in yours?

Contact me if ever you wish for partnership and guidance around shifting your meaning-making. This is my work as an Integral Coach!