Using Donna Haraway’s “Speculative Fabulation” for Mental Wellness
Whether in regards to feminist ideology, contemporary politics or world histories, anthropologist Donna Haraway tells us that the narratives we tell ourselves and others are important. In some cases, even more vital than reality. This method of recountal is called “speculative fiction”
“It matters what matters we use to think other matters with; it matters what stories we tell to tell other stories with; it matters what knots knot knots, what thoughts think thoughts, what ties tie ties. It matters what stories make worlds, what worlds make stories.” — Donna Haraway, 2011.
If you are feeling frustrated with how stuck you feel, do not spiral. Plan a time when you can fully commit to creating a new framework of your life and learn to open your mind to different ways of being. Then, try these ideas and see what works for you.
→ Adopt someone else’s paradigm first
try reading new philosophy, or listening to episodes of spirituality-themed podcasts like “On Being.” Piece together the comprehensions of the world you’re hearing, take what you like from there, and slowly you can begin to create your own logics of the world.
→ Put good things in your body
sleep early, eat good food, put energy into cooking and grocery shopping, do a free trial of Class Pass, which will get you into at least four fitness classes, again, fo free, and don’t forget to breathe deeply.
→ Try something extreme for a week
what counts as extreme for you? Take a vow to yourself and commit to it. It might something like, for this week, I am going to encounter a new space everyday, or I am going to spend as much time as I can alone, or maybe you want to take photos of yourself every day, something project-y.
→ Always remember that your friends are there to lean on.
always. sometimes we need to sit in our lows, sometimes we need someone to sit with us.
→ Note how your experiences connect to your theme
the best part about the theory of speculative fabulation, is that you are reminded how subjective ‘good’/ ‘bad’ is. Can you see the bigger picture? How will any experience be part of a satisfying new narrative?
With love,
Shirley
