My Story
I was talking to someone a few weeks ago about the dreams we have for our lives and we were visualizing the future when he turned the conversation around and wanted to know what I believed my story to be. Each of us has a story that we tell ourselves and it has a lot to do with our happiness and ability to successfully achieve our goals.
Examples of the stories we tell ourselves are things like: I'm always late. I can never remember names. I am no good at math. I never fit in.
So, as he sat there patiently, I took a deep breath and told my story.
I am no good at socializing in large groups. I'm book smart but have no common sense. I am too quiet and reserved. I'm a klutz. I think too much. I'm not spontaneous enough. I'm no fun.
He sat there for a minute, took my hand and asked me what the rest of my story was. I wasn't sure what he meant, wasn't that enough? He prompted me with, "You're the one everyone relies on. You're the organized one." Oh, yeah. Funny, I didn't even think about that aspect of my story. I don't tend to remember or believe the positive things about myself but man, those negative things jumped right out.
He asked me how my story was written. Part of it I could remember. Incidents from childhood, school years... but some I couldn't remember. It just always was. He said he would bet that most, if not all, my story was written by other people. One witnessed incident, one thoughtless nickname or joking insult, and the next thing you know, you're carrying the weight of someone else's reality for you.
Then he told me to forget that story. I could change my story to be whatever I wanted it to be. The important thing to remember was, The Story always comes before The Reality.
By the end of the day, I had rewritten my story. I'm proud to say I know exactly when and by whom my story was written now. I'm living a new story, in a new reality, and nowhere in it am I a klutz.
What's your story?
Chicago, being brave, changing, future, goals, growth, life coach, my story in About Coaching 
Reader Comments (3)
Brilliant.
Bravo.
That's really wonderful to hear. You were already amazing, but the changes I've witnessed in you have been wonderful to behold, and make me very very happy for you! :)
"I am no good at socializing in large groups. I'm book smart but have no common sense. I am too quiet and reserved. I'm a klutz. I think too much. I'm not spontaneous enough. I'm no fun."
Who is that?! That's not the beautiful, smart, witty,intellectual that I know. The person that always seemed to handle any situation with class and grace. I guess I must have forgotten what fun was as well. Busy people can only be so spontaneous you know!