Narrative Themes: Inherited Will

As a therapist who leans heavily on narrative theory, and as a person who is fascinated by stories of all kinds, I have a growing respect for themes. I see themes as one of the main ways stories are enriched. Themes add depth, nuance, and can even be the part of a story that enables it to resonate with us. In fiction, certain themes can pique our interests or move us to tears. In stories from real life, they offer the opportunity for learning to take place, or for a major shift in perspective. While I could (and very well may) write a series of blog posts about various themes, I’m especially excited to wax poetic about a theme that has seemed to crop up across areas of my life lately: inherited will.  

I’ll dive into what I mean by that shortly, as it’s not a very common phrase. But as for where I’ve taken notice of this theme, the list is rather extensive. I feel particularly excited to write about this theme because it’s one that I’ve seen in fiction and nonfiction alike. As I've read novels, comics, manga, & Scripture, watched TV shows & movies, heard anecdotes from people I know, or even reflected on my own story, this theme has stuck out like a sore thumb. And, while it isn’t the most common theme in stories, or overly talked about, it has certainly been the most compelling to me as of late. 

So, where does that leave us? Thus far, we have a story nerd, a niche theme, and plenty of blog left to go. Well, my goals for this piece are threefold. First, I want to introduce this theme to you, the reader, as it has been enriching and engaging for me. Second, I want to dive deeper into the theme alongside you. Third and finally, I want to bridge the gap between the abstract and the practical. To be fully transparent, I am unsure what the last objective will entail. Could it be workable takeaways, clinical direction, or a call to action? Absolutely. However, in my pursuit of offering you something valuable as the reader, I don’t want to decide on a thesis or singular claim at the outset of writing this. I promise to offer space and insight for you to engage with this theme in a personal way, and I ask for the same space to be offered to me as I wrestle with my thoughts and observations. Ultimately, introducing, delving into, and presenting this theme to you is meant to offer both of us the chance for meaningful growth.  

To those of you who are still awake, thank you for accommodating my request to explore. And, just like any effective explorer, we’re going to need something to guide us. In this case, our compass takes the form of a definition: Inherited will is the passing/adoption of a dream, goal, or ideal from one entity to another. This definition hopefully provides a little more clarity about the titular subject of this writing, as well as gives us a framework to consider the theme within. This particular definition demonstrates that while inherited will can manifest differently for different people, or in different stories, there will always be consistent, key elements. 

The first key element is that the will in question previously existed. Someone held this will at one point in time. The second key element is that the will could have been demonstrated by someone performing a certain role, embodying a specific quality, or pursuing a particular objective. The final key element, is that in order to be inherited, the will had to have been accepted (more on that last point later). 

With the foundation of inherited will established, I want to introduce some potential distinctions between examples of this theme. First, I use entity in my definition because the will could have belonged to an individual OR a group of people. Second, I know the words inheritance and will typically prompt us to think about someone passing away. However, an inherited will in this sense can either involve taking up the mantle from a previous generation, OR following the trajectory of someone who is still actively in your life. Lastly, this can look like someone explicitly being asked/told to follow in someone’s footsteps, OR two wills just happening to align. 

Now that you’ve been formally introduced, I get to outline some of the things that personally intrigue me so much about this theme. First off, it’s encouraging to see a will outlive a person. I feel that way on both sides of the equation. It’s a powerful thing to see dreams, goals, and callings continue on, even after the person who held them has passed away. Likewise, it’s affirming to see that what someone is pursuing was deemed worthy of pursuit by someone who came before them. 

Building off of the previous point, the value of an individual will is compounded by being a part of something bigger. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that wills, goals, and callings that are held by one person can be admirable and valid. However, to me personally, there is a greater sense of fulfillment that can be derived from our connections with others. In life, we find inspiration, support, and meaning in our relationships with others. From a narrative standpoint, this looks like our own story being contextualized within a greater, overarching narrative. Whether you want to call it looking at the bigger picture or being a part of something larger than yourself, considering the stories of others undoubtedly adds scope to our narrative.  

While it should be obvious at this point that the communal aspect of inherited will appeals to me, there is another side of it that compels me just as much: our agency. Inherited will is not having something thrust upon you. While it can be something that you receive directly from someone, it can also be something that you take upon yourself, with or without an invitation from the person who possessed it before you. Earlier in the writing, I mentioned the will needing to be accepted in order to fit into this theme. The beauty of this theme to me is that you can both be connected to others through the will you embody, AND distinctly on your own path. Inherited will doesn’t mean that your entire life mirrors someone else’s, or that you have a script to follow. In fact, the opposite is true. We all have autonomy within our story, and part of authoring it involves choosing which wills to live out. An inherited will is not a debt that someone saddles you with, it’s an opportunity for you to decide which callings, values, and dreams are worth pursuing.  

Perhaps the biggest reason that this theme has resonated with me as of late is my own personal experience with it. While there are multiple examples of this theme in my life, the first one that pops into my head is following in my mom’s footsteps as a counselor. Before my mom had children and shifted her focus to taking care of us full-time, she worked as a therapist. However, she never once pushed me to follow suit, or even recommended this career as far as I can remember. In fact, I'm mildly embarrassed to admit that before deciding on this career path, I asked very few questions at all about her experiences in the field. While I do wish that spent more time as a child asking my parents questions about their lives, I hope that my candor at least highlights that becoming a counselor was my decision, not theirs or anyone else’s.  

While this was a pathway that I exercised my agency in, it would be disingenuous to suggest that my mom and other members of my life didn’t play a role in my decisions. In fact, I’m certain that my mom had a bigger impact on my direction than even she realizes. You see, while my mom did not suggest I go down this path, or work as a therapist when I was growing up, this will extends far beyond a job. My mom embodies what it means to be a counselor in all areas of her life. Most prominently, my mom has always provided my siblings and I with her compassionate, validating, & warm presence, no matter what. Just seeing how that impacted me was enough to inspire me to want to support people in the same way, not to mention how her care for me shaped me into who I am today. Without any intention to do so, my mom began passing her will onto me through how she lived it out. 

My mom was not the only factor in my professional trajectory. Another huge impact on my life have been my siblings. Several of my siblings received different mental health diagnoses growing up. While I was not paying overly close attention to their therapy, it became something I was aware of in the background. Once again, my ignorance was not significant enough to keep me from noticing the strength of my siblings as they navigated various challenges, and created vibrant, full lives for themselves irrespective of what diagnoses they were given. Seeing the intentionality of my siblings played a role, as did the universal lesson of any five-child household: people are different from one another. It took me a long time, but being friends with each of my siblings eventually taught me how to acknowledge and appreciate differences, practice patience and selflessness, and learn that my experience wasn’t the only story out there.  

While I could go on and on about other contributing factors, I will limit myself to one more. Any good student of psychology knows that you cannot focus solely on nurture at the neglect of nature. What I mean by that is while my environment, upbringing, and early life connections have played a considerable role in who I am and what I do, there is a part of my identity that is inherent. Some of the guiding aspects of my personality and preferences include valuing supporting others, preferring one-on-one time with people rather than large groups, and being able to offer a steady presence, listening ear, & gentle demeanor. All of these factors, plus more, are what contributed to me adopting the same will that my mom has embodied. 

The reason I wanted to disclose some of my experience is because I believe that example highlights a lot of what I appreciate about this theme. It’s both validating to see that what my mom pursued/invested in was worthwhile, and that my calling is valued by someone whose opinion I hold in high esteem. It’s both uniting and empowering to see myself as an individual within a family of people who engage with and support others, or as a therapist among other devoted counselors. And, I’ve never once wondered if this was something that I was doing because it was my mom’s plan for my life. Instead, I see a calling- a niche where the needs around me align with my passions, values, and capabilities. While I view counseling as a will that extends far beyond myself, I also see each point in my story where I made a personal decision to pursue it. 

As I consider the reflections that I have presented so far, I feel even more confident that there is not a one-size-fits-all response to this theme. In fact, I would probably conclude this differently depending on who I was communicating with. If my friends were feeling generous enough to allow me to talk at them about this topic, I would probably recommend a variety of shows and books that feature this theme. I might also ask them how this theme has shown up in their experience. In the therapy room, a narrative session may invite reflection about which will a client chooses to pursue, or how they feel supported/guided by other members of their story.  

In this medium, however, there is even more freedom. Thus, I will not tell you to do anything. Instead, I want to invite you to engage with this theme however you see fit. If it’s revisiting a TV or book series, reflecting on your past experience, or considering how your path connects to others, go right ahead. If it’s to hold your own conversations with someone else, write a response, or step away while your ideas marinate, that’s all fine too. My hope is ultimately that this analysis was thought-provoking to you as the reader, that it resonated with someone, and inspired a sense of deep connection & empowerment wherever you are in your journey. So, whether your will is inherited or not, I implore you to live it out. And if your story is ever one that you want to talk about, just know, I’m only one click away. 

Jackson Van Meter