Power Through Partnership

Chapter 3Debunking the Myths

We, as in human beings, all carry myths. They’re dusty little boxes wedged deep in the closets of our brains, where they brim over with the truths, messages, fables, warnings, stories, and innuendos gathered throughout our lives. The sources for these myths might be lessons from parents, teachers, or role models; gossip by friends, enemies, or celebrities; messages from books, movies, advertising, or the Internet—they can come from anyone, anywhere. Over time, memories and meanings shift and grow tangled, real experiences slide into wished-for narratives, and we fill gaps with our own explanations and stories, creating and recreating our personal myths. This interwoven, barely examined part of our thinking nonetheless ...