Welcome to Rewriting Your Reality!
First, Let's Free the Elephant in the Room
Welcome to the First Post on Rewriting Your Reality!
If you’re here, I’m guessing you’re ready to shake things up, rethink some old beliefs, and maybe have a little fun while navigating the chaos of this ever-changing world.
A little about me: I’m Kristine Madera—Clinical Hypnotherapist, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, novelist, and global nomad who’s had a front-row seat to life’s unpredictability. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things about staying grounded when everything’s upside down. This Substack is where I’ll be sharing those insights, along with tools to help you build resilience, think boldly, and adapt intuitively.
But enough about me. Let’s dive into what is.
Start Where We Are
This Substack is apolitical, but we’re kicking things off just weeks after the 2024 U.S. presidential election—and let’s be honest, it’s the elephant in the room. Whether you’re elated, devastated, or just exhausted, there’s no denying that this moment in history is loud. The stakes feel high, and our minds and bodies are buzzing with it.
And here’s the thing: to rewrite your reality, you need space for change. Right now, that space might be cluttered with feelings, stories, and reactions to the election—no matter where you fall on the spectrum. So let’s start by clearing some of that mental and emotional real estate with a couple of questions.
Question 1: How Invested Are You in Your Point of View?
Take a moment to reflect on how you’re feeling about the future.
Are you grieving a political loss and bracing for a dystopian hellscape?
Are you celebrating a win and finally seeing hope after years in the wilderness?
Or maybe you’re somewhere in the middle, carrying your own unique stories about the future and who holds the power to shape it.
Now, pause. Notice how your point of view feels in your body. Are you tense? Anxious? Energized? Hopeful? You may notice stories bubbling up—proof, in your body & mind, that your perspective is true.
Grab a journal and spend some time writing about your response and the stories that support it. No judgment, no editing. Just let it all out.
For me, I’ve been working on dismantling having a predetermined point of view for a very long time, and it’s still a work in progress. If this idea is new to you, give yourself time to soften through the layers of rightness or resistance. It’ll be worth it in the long run, I promise you.
Question 2: How Willing Are You to Be Wrong?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
If you’re invested in a future of doom and gloom, are you open to the idea that it might not turn out that way? Are you willing to explore data points or stories showing people solving problems and creating a better world, even if they are people who think or believe differently than you?
If you’re riding high on hope and have your E-ticket for the upcoming thrill ride, are you willing to entertain the idea that those who think or believe differently than you might have some rocking good ideas and be earnestly working for a better world, even if their vision or motivation is different than yours?
Whatever your perspective, sit with this question: how willing are you to be wrong? Wrong about your point of view about the future? Wrong about the “other” side or the intentions, motivations, or mindset of people different than you? Write it out, and keep going until you feel a little more spaciousness in your mind and body.
For me, this question felt like a trapdoor opening and dropping me into the abyss—and I’ve worked on other versions of this question for years. Again, give yourself time. Your mind and body will come up with thoughts, feelings, arguments, and new stories that “prove” your point of view. Newsflash—the bodies, minds, and news stories of those who you disagree with do the very same thing.
There’s an argument to be made about how objective reality is, but your experience of it is completely subjective and unique to you. The purpose of this question isn’t to second guess yourself or to make you feel wrong. It’s to open you up to the idea that reality, and your subjective experience of it, are malleable. You get to choose how to respond to what is. Being willing to step away from a predetermined viewpoint is key to cultivating a more adaptive, heart-led, possibility-filled life. I know it sucks at first, but trust me, it’s a critical mind muscle to strengthen.
Reclaim Your Power
Here’s the kicker: we’re conditioned to believe that the structures around us—political, financial, religious, corporate—have ultimate power over our lives. Whether you’re taught to obey and align or resist and rebel, both responses keep the power “out there” and leave you in reaction mode, which is exhausting and disempowering.
One of the key things we’ll explore in Rewriting Your Reality is reclaiming your sense of power, regardless of the prevailing structure. For now, just sit with the two questions above. When you’ve worked through them, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine your whole body filling with light and creating space for true change. (The recorded version of this post includes a short guided meditation to help you with that.)
Let’s Build Space for Change
Not all posts will be this intense, but this felt like the big elephant in the room that needed clearing. Once we create inner space, there’s room for the kind of transformation we’ll be exploring together.
Want to chime in? Head to the Substack chat thread for this post—I’d love to hear what came up for you.
Thanks for being here and diving into this journey with me.
Peace,
Kristine
Even the stormiest skies have moments of light if you’re ready to see them.
