How you tell your story can be hugely influential on how you live your life.
Have you ever thought about your life as a story?
You can tell your story in so many different ways. How you choose to tell it affects how you live your life.
Tell Your Story Through Your Past
All of us have had sad and difficult times in our lives. All of us have done things we wish we hadn’t. It’s how we learn and develop.
We all know people who fixate endlessly on what has gone wrong. Or what they don’t like. Or how awful the world is. Generally speaking they are not people we want to be with. They are drains.
If we fill up our story with these episodes we feel hopeless. We become buffeted by life’s events, at the mercy of others. And that’s the face we show to the world. No control, helpless. Miserable.
Believing that bad things happen to us tends to become a self fulfilling prophesy. We fail to spot the good things in our lives and take the opportunities that arise.
Happy Endings
The good thing about being the narrator of our story is that we can decide what happens. We have some control over the end. Our attitude can affect how we age , for example, regardless of events. Check out this article on a book by Dr Kerry Burnight on Joyspan. It’s my new favourite word! Here’s an extract:
The hundreds of predictors found in thousands of studies on what is necessary to thrive in longevity consistently group into four essential elements.
Grow: They continue to expand and explore.
Connect: They put time into new and existing relationships.
Adapt: They adjust to changing and challenging situations.
Give: They share themselves.
If you focus on the good that has happened in your life, the story looks very different. You can have a very different ending! It’s not simply a question of adding up the number on each side; the value of each event is different. And unique to you.
In my next post I’ll give you an exercise to help you look at your story in a positive light. Meanwhile, reflect on how you describe the story of your life so far. Are you channeling sad soap or happy feel good?
Newsflash – Coaching for Charity!
I am offering coaching sessions, one off, for an hour. On any topic. You don’t pay me but make a donation to either of two charities I am passionate about. I’m suggesting about £50 (way below what you’d normally pay) but what you give is entirely up to you. Every single penny is going to charity. Two special charities in particular – see below). The money doesn’t come to me but direct to the charities through a Just Giving page..
My husband has Parkinsons’s Disease. If you a regular newsletter reader you’ll know that we’ve had a tricky few years. (I am rarely understated but I am here… It’s been hell.) A constant source of support has been The Firefighters Charity. I just can’t tell you how wonderful they are and if I tried I’d probably start blubbing everywhere. None of us want that…
Equally, over the last few months I have come to know the work of the wonder that is Parkinson’s UK. Amongst other things they invest in support for patients and research into this cruel disease. There is currently no cure. But I am optimistic that there will be! They just need a little help from their friends…
If you have ever thought coaching might be helpful now’s your time to try it out. I am offering a one hour virtual session at a suggested donation of £50. To take advantage of this just let me know you’re interested via email, jane@changingpeople.co.uk. No obligation. If you choose to go ahead, you’ll get a link to the two JustGiving Pages :The Firefighters Charity and Parkinson’s UK. Simply get in touch.
Top Photo from Ivan Cajina on Unsplash
RenewYou, My Tried and Tested Career Booster!
RenewYou has helped thousands of women make positive and lasting change in their lives. I deliver it one-to-one as part of a bespoke coaching package for women looking to move into leadership, to progress their career, or who wish to be the absolute best version of themselves.
Posted on August 4th, 2025 by Jane
