Do you ever sit and play your narrative in your head?
That script of how your life became what it is, what is holding you back, and what is keeping you in the position you are in right now?Those are our unique stories.
We each have our own. No, it isn’t just those suffering with mental health issues or those who are in a bad situation whether it be a bad relationship or a strained financial position. Most of the time we replay and re read those stories to ourselves. I am XYZ because of my parents, I was raised this way, the list goes on. We have stories to justify our behaviours and to keep us from propelling forward most of the time.
Do you ever think of how powerful that is?
We oftentimes don’t think of how much it impacts our lives and the lives of others, rereading the same story script over and over again, trying not to deviate from it. If we read the same story, it is comforting. We are comfortable that we know the outcome because we have already rehearsed it so many times. We know the ending point. We know how we got there and we can justify each situation because of our story. Humans need explanation. We like to be able to predict what is going to happen or even blame someone for something that happened. We feel in control of it and it isn’t scary or foreign.
What is scary? Trying to develop a new story. Trying not to know everything, and leaving things up for chance or a different narrative. That’s fucking scary. I tried not to give into my story anymore years ago, to see where it would lead me. I never told people my story because I didn’t want it to define me. Sometimes we hide our stories, but sometimes we tell them, because telling them becomes more powerful than letting those stories have power over you. Some stories are fun to tell, inspiring, life changing even. But many are scary, not fun, and put us in a vulnerable state. We are naked. Someone reads our book, and it is out there for the world to look at us and decide whether or not they think our story is worth sharing.
My point is. Share your story. Impact lives. But you aren’t BOUND to that story for the rest of your life. It is more of a chapter. Or maybe it’s the first story or book of a beautiful triology or even a dramatic series like Harry Potter (my favorite stories)!!!
We can choose to write a new page ANYDAY. All we have to do is put a big fat PERIOD. Or THE END.
Flip open a brand-new page. Start writing ANYWAY we feel and fill new pages with new stories, identities and possibilities.
Don’t be afraid to share your story, but don’t be afraid to write a new one.