What Is Your Story? The Stories We Tell Ourselves
How often do we stop ourselves from trying something new or going on a less traveled road because we already decided that we weren’t good at it, would fail, or didn’t have the time?
How often do we stay feeling dissatisfied with what we do but don’t want to change anything because we tell ourselves that the known devil is better than the unknown angel?
We hear stories about people, just like us, changing their lives for the better because they made changes to their lives. Yet, when we have to take the first step, we tell ourselves it can’t be done.
Month after month, year after year, we go through life with unutilized potential, knowing deep down we could do better but telling ourselves not to.
Does That Sound Familiar?
Don’t beat yourself down for thinking this way. You are not alone. Telling ourselves stories is what we all do. Every day. All the time.
We all tell stories about who we are, what is happening around us, why things are happening the way they are; stories about other people and ourselves.
The stories we tell ourselves are based on our experiences and perception of the world around us. This is why we can have two people see the same event but have entirely different interpretations. We are different, and so are the stories we tell.
It has always been this way and most likely will continue this way.
“We are defined by the stories we tell ourselves.”
โ Tony Robbins
What Are The Stories? What Role Do They Play In Our Lives?
The stories we tell ourselves aim to help us survive by keeping us in the current state where our brain thinks it is safe. That is as if we lived 5,000+ years ago when survival meant running away from a tiger.
Survival nowadays means staying on the job, moving up the company ladder, not getting in an altercation with our spouse or the in-laws, etc.
In our world, if we want to survive and thrive, we have to do the opposite: move, grow, gain more experience, and explore new avenues.
The stories we tell ourselves often create unhappiness, frustrations, anxieties, broken relationships, miscommunication, disappointments, and high-stress levels.
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t โ you’re right.”
โ Henry Ford
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Why Do We Use An Outdated Protection System That Sabotages Us?
We upgrade our phones to serve us better, buy new gadgets to be more productive, and buy the latest sportswear to run faster. Why not upgrade the essential part of ourselves: our mindset and our OS to become better equipped for our world?
- The good news is that you can upgrade your OS. You can start doing so with small steps.
- Try to keep in mind that everybody has their own story, and everybody is struggling with it
- Try to notice what stories you tell yourself about the events happening around you and the people you meet throughout your day
- Learn about yourself. What motivates you? What stresses you out?
In my work, I have seen many clients transform their lives into happier, more fulfilling, and purposeful lives. It always starts with the first step.
What story would you like to tell yourself at the end of your life? A story about regrets and missed opportunities, or a story about a fulfilled life and personal satisfaction?
Let’s talk.
Schedule a discovery session to learn how you can change your story. Take a small first step and see where it may take you.
