The Story You Tell Yourself

“The story I tell myself matters, so I’d better tell myself a good story.”

This is one of the most impactful lessons I learned from a mentor of mine.

In practice, it means how we think about ourselves and our capabilities lays the groundwork for our behaviors. Here’s an example you might have heard before:

“Look – I work a demanding job, have a partner to spend time with, and hobbies to keep up – I don’t have time to workout and make dinner every night.”

This person identifies as busy, with lots of obligations and little time. I’m sure all of us can relate.

The problem lies in the story they’re telling themselves about their identity. 

They’re looking at it in a negative light and using it as a crutch to not take action and improve their health.

But what if we reframed things? 

“Look – I work a demanding job, have a partner to spend time with, and hobbies to keep up – so I manage my time like a pro to fit in my workouts and home-cooked dinners.”

See the difference?

The subtle switch from, “I’m this, therefore I CAN’T…” to “I’m this, therefore I CAN…” focuses on what they’re good at thanks to their identity.

When you behave in a way that aligns with your identity, values, and priorities, you validate who you are as a person. You tell yourself a good story.

So… what story will you tell yourself today?