Last week I talked about Joni, a client that one day woke up exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling like she had nothing significant to show for all of her hard work.
Joni didn’t feel good about herself, didn’t trust herself, and had adopted her family’s attitude toward money. All of those things kept her stuck at a level far below what she was capable of achieving.
I think we can all agree that there are times we get in our own way. We let limiting beliefs stop us even though we’re talented and deserve more.
But when you suspect that something is holding you back, what do you do about it? How do you get out of your own way and experience the kind of successes you want in life?
I’m going to answer those questions, but first, I need to tell you something about you and every person who lives and breathes. We love stories. We tell them, listen to them, buy into them, are excited and passionate about them…
And we seldom think about the author.
If we thought about the author, we’d be a lot more selective in the stories we hold dear and the ones we reject.
Would you really buy into a love story told by someone that’s been divorced 5 times? Even if they weren’t divorced – if they were never really happy with their partner, would you be excited about hearing their tale?
How about a story of financial success by an author that lives paycheck to paycheck or has filed for bankruptcy?
What about a 400 pound (181kg) person’s story about health?
The author matters, right?
And yet, all of us have, at one time or another, bought into a story without ever considering its value.
You see, right now, you tell yourself a story every moment of every day about who you are. And the odds are very high that you didn’t write your story at all.
The voices and actions of your family, teachers, coaches, friends, and anyone else you’ve ever spent time around created your story. Sometimes the story’s plot points are based on things you did once when you were a child and sometimes they’re based on the stories other people told themselves and repeated to you.
But you believe those stories — we all do — until the day you begin questioning the source. And if we really want to change, if you want to change, one day you become your own author.
You don’t clear out your library in one fell swoop. But one mindful change after another, you start making your story YOURS.
That was Joni’s answer, too. She changed the script she had about money and about herself. And as she continued to repeat her “new story” to herself, she started feeling confident and realized that she could charge her clients what she’s worth and feel good about it.
Joni’s story had a happy ending – and yours can, too.
If you’re looking for an action step, try this:
Pay attention sometime and really listen to the voices in your head. Are any of them your own? Are the things they’re saying really true or just someone else’s opinion or something you’ve heard all your life? Think about what would happen if you stopped believing them and started telling your own story.
Rewriting, or re-scripting, your story leads to powerful changes. But sometimes the old story is so familiar that it’s challenging to see a different one. If that’s the case for you, contact me at heather@mindfulchange.com or call me at 613.601.1083, and we’ll set up a 30-minute discovery session.
Isn’t it time you started writing your own life’s story?
And that brings us to this week’s quote:
“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”
~Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
Next week I’ll talk more about the most powerful love a person can know. Do you have it in your life already?
See ya next week!
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