It’s been a busy week, and with that some time pressure. The feeling of “not enough” whether it be time, money, space, or connection often comes with a mental spiral that leads you deeper into the “not enough.”
As we craft a story around our problem and continue to tell it, it wraps itself around how we experience what’s happening. The story matters. Words matter.
The following are all descriptions of the same short video clip. Three very different perspectives.
Jane saw a mean, ugly dog bearing down on her.
Jane saw a scared, dirty dog looking for help.
Jane saw a wet, muddy dog, trotting down the path.
Words matter.
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In my work, I regularly see how changing the story you tell yourself can quickly shift your lived experience. When we weave our thoughts into a story that we tell ourselves over and over again (often subconsciously) it has even more impact.
Research shows how powerful thoughts are, influencing physical health and mental well-being.
Re-telling a story and changing thought patterns is simple and not always easy. One of the tools I use is a little self-inquiry journaling.
- What’s the story I’m telling myself about this?
- How could it be different?
- I’m just going to play with the story that X could be different.
This reframe is powerful.
As for me Mid-week I realized my not-enough-time story was really affecting my mood, energy level, and my ability to take advantage of the little moments that were available to fill my cup.
I shifted my story to how lucky I was to have the opportunities and I made sure to schedule some downtime on Sunday. My mood shifted and I enjoyed the rest of the week.
Whether it’s reminding yourself of your innate ability to heal, the many possibilities for money to flow to you, or that love comes in all shapes and sizes reframing your story helps create a fertile ground to consciously create what you’re seeking.
What’s your favorite re-frame of a story you told yourself?