Learning how to rewrite your story is one of the most transformative tools that you can learn. Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do? Why do you keep procrastinating or holding yourself back from greatness?
Stories are the way our ego keeps us safe. Stories are learned from experiences we have encountered in our lives. Essentially, our minds have learned that certain situations cause harmful emotions. To keep us from feeling these negative emotions, we act in a way that saves us from making the same mistakes again.
Here is where the problem lies, these emotions are not always harmful and often the negative feelings have to be worked through for you to level up.
If you ignore the stories and the emotions that come along with them, well you’re doing a great job of staying the same.
BUT, You’re not reading this blog to stay small and safe. You have big dreams and you’re ready to learn how to achieve them.
Let me share with you the method I use to rewrite my story, so you can do the same and start making progress in your life and goals.
P.S. Listen to this podcast episode all about stories.
How Do You Operate On Stories
As I said above, stories are learned from past experiences. You may also know stories as blockages. It’s common to hear people say they have a block around money or relationships. They are the same thing, but they are different languages.
I like to use “story” because it just makes sense to think of your future as a story you get to curate.
Often, until you start doing this inner work, you never realize that you are operating under a story. Stories can affect any part of your life. They may be about your self-worth, career, friends, or even money. You name it and you may be operating with a story that no longer serves you.
Recently I had a huge ah-ha moment when I realized that I had been operating under the story of being a nurse. This story has been holding me back from my big goals for a few years now and I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t able to move forward in my own business.
This is how the story and identity of being a nurse was holding me back.
My Story That Was Not Serving Me
I am a very good nurse, but I am also a very tough nurse. I have been operating under the ICU Nurse identity for several years now. This identity is difficult to explain, but I will try my best.
ICU nurses are very intelligent but are used to working with patients who are sedated. We are trained to monitor the numbers and react on a dime. We are not the best at dealing with emotions but we function very well in high-stress situations. I am great at wearing this shell and keeping myself safe from the stress of being a nurse. I mean we are caring for people’s lives here, but when you’re trained to turn your emotions off, it makes it difficult to reconnect with yourself in the inner work.
In my personal life, this story was wearing me down. I was burned out as a nurse and often left with no social or emotional battery at the end of the day. I was so mentally drained that I wasn’t able to be present or joyful with my family.
This is when I knew this story was no longer serving me and if I wanted to make my dream vision a reality. I had to start operating under a different story.
How Is Your Story Holding You Back?
Stories or blocks are the reason you feel held back in certain situations. A common story that many of us live with is the “not smart enough” story. When it comes to your career aspirations this block will hold you back from taking the risks necessary to level up.
My favorite way to identify stories is to zoom out. When you begin to feel a negative emotion or a “yucky” feeling, try to zoom out and remove yourself from that situation. Almost like seeing yourself above your world, like a scene in a movie. Here, you can look at the situation without the negative emotions. Look at the facts or a new way to approach this situation. Maybe you want to practice an intuitive exercise and you ask yourself why. Check out this post that details this exercise.
The act of zooming out or asking yourself why is a great start but learning how to rewrite this story will help you achieve a new version of yourself. The version that achieves the goals and aspirations you have set in your vision.
Awareness Is Your First Step
Yes, awareness is the first step in changing the way you rewrite your story. You can’t use the tools of rewriting, zooming out, or journal exercises if you can’t realize when you are operating under a story. Awareness is the biggest and hardest step in this journey. Although this is true, when you build that awareness muscles, you give yourself a chance to make breakthroughs. You have to be able to notice when you are in that story and then take the steps necessary to change your thinking.
Ways To Rewrite Your Story
Rewriting your story is my favorite part. It’s no surprise that I am a dreamer. I like to rewrite my vision and the version of me in that vision. I have some amazing journal prompts featured in my Clarity Course. If you want a deeper dive into building your vision and creating an action plan, make sure to join the waitlist.
Who Are You Becoming?
Yet, essentially you need to envision the woman who has your dream life. What does she do daily? What is she wearing? Does she like to travel? All of this dreaming will help you recreate your story. The only rule is that this story must inspire you to move forward.
What Do You Fear?
To go more in-depth with this work, I will break down how I rewrite a story. Let’s say you are having difficulty branching out on your own solo business. You have always worked as an employee and as long as you showed up and did what you were trained for, you got paid. Now you have to judge your services and name a price. EEKKK. You begin to feel some big emotions coming up. The first step is to figure out where those emotions are coming from. Meditation, journal, or use the zoom-out method to break down what you are really fearful of.
For this example, Let’s say you paid a lot for your schooling to obtain your career and now you are completely pivoting. You find that you’re fearful that all of your effort, time, and money was wasted. You know your vision and it’s very clear on what you want. Your old story is no longer feeling aligned and serving you.
New Version Story
The next step is to look at what the version of you, who is living that vision has or does. How do they feel about their life and the risks they take?
Now for the most important step, You are going to rewrite that story you tell yourself.
Old Version: I am a nurse, who has put a lot of effort into my career. I am great at what I do. If I give others advice at work it is just that, advice. But If I make this a business, it would just be something silly, that I do on the side.
New Version: I am a business owner. I help women transform their lives. I’m confident that my dreams are becoming a reality because I am no longer afraid to be creative and learn. I live my life full of joy and I choose what feels aligned with my goals.
Do you see how empowering this new version is? I want you to feel inspired and empowered by your new story.
Let’s Recap
Step 1: figure out why that story is not serving you.
Step 2: Think about what you need to be in order to fit your vision, what feels most aligned
Step 3: Rewrite your story and operate at a new level.
How I Rewrote My Own Story
Although I gave you a step-by-step version of my process with my basic story, here is an in-depth version of what I had to do to start living in true alignment with my vision.
At the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, I was stuck on the whole “ICU Nurse” story and it held me back from building this business. I would often subconsciously find myself thinking it’s okay if this company fails because it’s just a silly dream. I am a nurse and nurses don’t create businesses, especially not ones way out in left field. We clock in and clock out.
This story was holding me back from putting myself out there and making that full commitment to growing this company.
Glimpse Into My Journal
This is how I rewrote my story. I grabbed my favorite journal and pen and started dreaming. Who is the woman who runs Inspire RN? What does she teach? What does she look like? How does she feel during her day? Then with this vision of me in mind, I went and wrote a story about myself.
Here is a direct quote from my own journal.
My new Story,
I am an energetic beautiful woman who loves to empower and help others. I am wholly me. No one can change this golden image of me. I’m an entrepreneur coach. I attract clients just because I am me. I enjoy slow afternoons with my kids. I’m working hard to honor the body I was given. I’ll work out, and I eat well with lots of nourishment. I love learning. I love growing, and my journey will have ups and downs but I know if I follow my gut my choice is not wrong. My faith in god’s guidance has outgrown the excruciating fear I used to feel. God’s way and guidance for me have been proven to be exactly how I intend or even better each and every time.
Ways To Reinforce Your New Story
The best way to reinforce your new story is to create reminders for yourself.
I have a Podcast episode on affirmations and manifestation that I would love you to listen to.
Yet, here is the gest of it all. Create a way that works best for you to remind yourself of who you are becoming. You could create a few affirmations or grab some from my favorite affirmations list. You can post these around your house, office, or even in your car. I have my affirmations set as alarms on my phone to go off every few hours. Another idea is for you to write them in your journal every morning. There is no wrong choice, whatever way you choose to remind yourself that you are becoming a new version of yourself is perfect.
Gain Clarity
I want to be a part of your transformation. If you feel called to it, I want you to sign up for the Clarity Course and finally commit to your dream life. I think the word dream life gets a bad rap, but I honestly am helping women live and build that life that makes them feel joy and reignites the excitement to wake up in the morning. Your dream life doesn’t have to be big or grand, it can be whatever you wish it to be. I only ask that you commit to living your life, not a life of survival. God gave us all the talent and ability to fulfill these daydreams, so let’s not waste what god gave ya. Get this course that launches in Sept 2024 and I will show you the way to transform your life.
I have a bonus coaching membership for those who sign up for the first launch.
Don’t wait for your future, go out and get it.
