We love a good Co-Star moment, those bitches over there are forever spot on. With that said, I continuously see: “If you can, learn how to teach yourself new ways to think.” Mostly in the connotation regarding myself, spirituality, and sometimes with love. At first I obsessed over this, kind of convinced something was wrong with me & the way my mind worked, overly doubting myself. (keep in mind this also was when I relied heavily on spirituality for like everything hahaha so not too much). As time went on, I looked more into myself to learn about me, not just relying on God and the stars to tell me. I learned exactly how important of a thing it is, to teach ourselves new ways to think. Our minds are natural storytellers. They craft narratives from our experiences, things people have said and done to us, from how we see ourselves fail or succeed. Just because our minds compose these stories that doesn’t mean we have to believe them. Most of these tales are fear-based conclusions, half-truths, fueled by assumptions that keep us feeling stuck and small.
If you’re anything like me, your inner storyteller can get pretty loud. It’s the voice that tells you that you’re not good enough, doing enough, or that you won’t accomplish your goals. Sometimes it’s easier to let these thoughts define us, rather than break them down. To believe the narrative our mind is spinning the only truth that we know. However the more I’ve learned, the more I realized: we have the power to question those stories.
So how do we do that?
1. Recognize the narrative. The first step is awareness. Notice when your mind starts telling stories that aren’t serving you. Pay attention to the patterns of negative thinking. Once you start recognizing them, you can start to separate from the truth.
2. Ask: Is this really true? Our minds often create drama, magnifying our fears or doubts. When that inner critic starts going, ask yourself if the story it’s yelling you is actually true. Is there evidence to support it? Nine times out of ten, the answer is no. The narrative we’re telling ourselves is based more on fear and uncertainty than fact.
3. Challenge the story with a new one. After questioning the old narrative, create a new one. One that reflects who you truly are and the potential you have. Shift the focus from limitations to possibilities. The more you do this, the more you’ll start to believe in the new narrative.
4. Give yourself grace. We’re all works in progress. No story is set in stone, and no chapter is the end. Allow yourself the space to grow, learn, and even change the plot.
Although our minds may be a storyteller, you are the author. You get to choose what to believe and what to let go of. Life is full of twists and turns, and so is the story of who we are. The key is to be open to the fact you can rewrite it at any moment. So, the next time you catch yourself listening to a narrative that doesn’t serve you, take a step back and question it.
With love, 224:)
