Creative Language

A favorite example of one of Michael White's questions that moved beyond taken-for-granted assumptions was when he asked someone who was crying, not what she was feeling, but rather, "If you could take that tear and open it up, what would be inside?" Answering about a feeling state might have led to her saying she was sad. Every single word we utter is packed full of many traces of other experiences and influences. In order to more ethically engage in a useful and hope-inducing conversation with people, we must remember this and foster an ability to examine those influences and make their own decisions about their preferences, values, and commitments. - Innovations in Narrative Therapy