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Ruth Scott Anglican Priest and Quaker:

Last weekend four nuns were playing Monopoly during down-time at a conference I was facilitating. There was a lot of laughter as these women, committed to non-materialistic lives, got in touch with their 鈥榠nner banker鈥�. The competition was fierce as each sought to bankrupt the others! I鈥檓 reminded of a friend from Northern Ireland who, depending on whether he needs to be friendly or forceful in a meeting, either plugs into what he calls his 鈥榠nner leprechaun鈥� or his 鈥榠nner Paisley鈥� 鈥� as in Ian Paisley. I suspect all of us have a variety of inner 鈥榲oices鈥� which take centre stage according to the situations confronting us. Because of painful experiences some of these vocal impulses may be negative, telling us such things as how useless we are, or that we don鈥檛 deserve good things, or that change isn鈥檛 possible. Instead of helping us thrive they diminish our lives. Once, during a tough time, a wise friend got me to identify and name the negative speakers in my own mind. Wingeing Winnie, Depressed Dorcas, Uptight Tessa, Critical Constance, Angry Annie, and Fearful Florence were suddenly thrown into sharp relief. 鈥淚magine your mind鈥檚 a stage and you are the director who determines who is and who is not allowed to perform,鈥� said my friend. 鈥淲hen you recognise one of your disabling voices has come centre stage again, consciously send them back to their dressing rooms, and call out the positive players in your psyche who have been hidden away for far too long.鈥� In a society where negativity often has the upper hand, I believe the more of us who can mobilise our inner voices of compassion, love, courage and inspiration, the more chance we鈥檒l have to be a thriving community.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽