We all tell ourselves a lot of stories whether we recognize it or not.
This skill is marvelous if we are intentionally creating new and wonderful worlds to expand our minds. However, in my life I find storytelling is more often supportive of limiting beliefs.
For some reason it’s easier to believe a tale that reinforces judgment and restrictive assumptions than one that encourages a dream. Most of our unverified stories are ones that facilitate complacency.
If we assume we can’t effect change, we don’t even have to attempt to do so. We settle into the predictability of our current dissatisfaction instead of writing a new story for ourselves.
A lot of times, we see someone else’s life, interpret it through our own experience, and then draw conclusions for ourselves based on what we totally fabricated about someone else.
Either they are so fabulous we can never match up OR we are so much like them we can never be different.
Let me humbly suggest that is nonsense!
For example, I really enjoy exercise. I have been known to book vacations based on how many options for physical activity exist. Morning yoga and an afternoon hike? I’m there!
However, if you don’t like working out, you might look at me and misinterpret the situation. Instead of recognizing that I stay fit by doing what I find fun, you may decide that in order to stay in shape you have to do the exact same things I do.
If you determine my exercise regimen would be miserable for you, you may also ditch your totally reasonable workout plan because you think it won’t be as effective.
Now you’re doing nothing as a result of a decision you made based on an untrue story you totally made up in your head. Going for a daily walk may be just as perfect for you as Bikram yoga is for me.
I am not the same as you. My story is not your story.
You may think that example doesn’t apply to you, but we all do this to varying degrees in our lives. For the longest time I bought into the notion that one must be somewhat miserable to be of service.
Giving to others requires a level of sacrifice that couldn’t possibly coexist with fulfillment and satisfaction in all areas of life. Thankfully, this story never totally rang true for me.
Throughout the challenges of my experience as a medical student and a resident I didn’t buy the idea that this was as good as it got. I was thrilled at the opportunity to write my own happy story as an attending physician.
When I saw other physicians who were perpetually grumpy, I refused to accept that as the inevitable development of my storyline.
They are not me. Their story is not my story.
The tales I told myself about them were just my interpretation of limited information. All I knew was Dr. Grumpy grumbled the entire time he was on call.
I could only speculate as to the cause of that. It was a real stretch to assume all or any of the factors I conjured would be true for me and therefore lead me to be just as miserable as him.
I knew I had no business basing my personal choices on such creative fiction. If I wanted to live a life based on something I made up, it served my spirit better to go with the story that I am capable of happiness.
This happiness narrative inspired my decision to leave clinical medicine and eventually to start my own business. The best part is that I continue to write it for myself instead of following someone else’s restrictive plotline.
When it comes down to it, a lot of what we think is true is actually a product of our imaginations. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The problem comes when we default to telling and believing a limiting story. It serves us all better to choose one that motivates us to create our own happy ending.
If you would like help learning how to change your stories, please click here to request an Essence of Strength sample coaching conversation.
Dr Jattu Senesie is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, certified success coach, physician satisfaction specialist and speaker. She blogs about issues of self care and well-being in an effort to help her fellow altruistic high achievers find satisfaction in their success as early in their careers as possible.
