The story you keep telling yourself is the one you keep living through your habits.
I’m reading a book on Behavioral Science in Marketing. I loved one story there.
Someone complimented the author on having “runner’s legs.”
The author, not particularly fond of running, heard those 2 words and something changed for her. She bought professional running shoes. Joined a running club. Signed up for a 5K race. Months later, she’s still running.
Nothing changed except how she saw herself because of some simple comment that changed her narrative, the one she didn’t know she had.
Try something with me right now.
Grab a pen. Write: “I am… I am the kind of person who...”
And keep going. Don’t edit. Bring out the definitions you’re proud of and the ones you’d rather not admit to — all of it.
Now look at what you wrote.
Which of those stories are serving you — moving your life forward, growing and expanding you, helping you embrace challenges and persevere on things that matter? And which ones are some old recordings that hold you back? Things you picked up somewhere along the way and never questioned?
Are they true?
Objectively, undeniably, unchangeably true?
What else could be true about you instead?
There’s a difference between an unchangeable fact about who you are and a story you’ve been repeating so long it feels like gravity.
One of my clients in her testimonial said,
“Angela is really good at catching your stories, the ones we use to limit ourselves.”
I’m proud of this skill I developed.
Because that’s where it all starts.
Before you can grow into a different you, that makes new decisions and takes different actions, and ultimately transforms your life - you have to believe in a new story about who you can be.
The identity has to shift first. Everything else aligns with it.
Does the story you’re telling about yourself match the future you’re trying to build?