Tell a New Story: It’s Your Life

It’s so easy to fall into the habit of telling yourself a story about yourself that may be misguided, distorted, and totally untrue. We can’t really help it. Our attention networks in the brain will readily focus on the potential problems in an unknown future or the real problems and memories from the past. It’s called the negativity bias and we all have it because: (1) it’s a survival algorithm to be prepared for potential danger, and (2) the brain’s neural networks take the path of least resistance and prefer what’s familiar (even if not helpful).

You can tell a new story.

But like an old song these stories play in the background and will grab our attention, often at inopportune times. Going on a new date? Giving a presentation? Speaking up for oneself?

Once we notice the inner dialogue and be curious about it, we can actually make some decisions. Is it a story still worth telling? Is there anything more to be learned here? Is it time to create a new plot?

What you focus on grows stronger. Rewrite an old story. Even better, go ahead and live into a new story. You have permission.