A simple Story State Action game

In the colonial framework of trauma healing, there is often a lot of power given to a term called discharge. This can be helpful but only when placed in proper nondual, decolonial context.

The idea that the human body, mind, nervous system is like an electrical machine that operates on circuit breakers is a limited metaphor. But since most people in colonial society believe this to be true, let’s try and transform that term into something more useful.

First, think of other terms similar to discharge such as recharge or un-charge or in-charge or whatever. It doesn’t matter if these terms are “made up” because language is made up. It’s just approximation gestures, signals about embodied States. The States themselves are more important relationally.

So here’s some Story State Action games to try out.

First choose a single Action that can be repeated such as walking across a room, picking up an object, etc.

You will repeat this Action slow enough to be able to attend to the internal states that the Action produces. The Action will be changed according to a single word Story.

First do the Action normally or neutrally to get a baseline. Mark that baseline somehow in your embodied memory or on a piece of paper.

Then do the Action with the Story “discharge”. Notice how your Action and State is different than the normal/neutral.

Now, do the Action with the Story “recharge”. Go through the same noticing process.

Repeat this sequence at least one more time. Then, compare your current State to the original marked baseline.

You may then change the Story again based on your own embodied curiosity and current State.

This holistic reflection process can help you decolonize not only your process, but your Story around your process.

Let me know how it goes and if you want a different format for these kinds of games. I’m curious how i can help in the terrible situation of colonial capitalism.