The Stories We Tell Ourselves
About this episode
The episode explores how the stories we tell ourselves can influence our choices and hold us back from taking action.
Slow Down and Question the Stories Controlling Your Choices Why Do Stories Take Hold? I start by recalling a high school memory: there was someone I admired from afar but convinced myself was out of reach. The story I told myself then—“she’ll never go out with me”—seemed so logical at the time that I never even tried to ask. This early lesson stuck with me in surprising ways as I got older. It wasn’t just a high school crush; the same pattern resurfaces even in adulthood. For example, more recently, I hesitated to invite a high-profile guest to the podcast. The old narrative returned: “they’re too important, they won’t respond.” When I examined it, though, I realized it was just that—a narrative with no real evidence behind it. I didn’t know they would say no. I wasn’t rejected; I simply made up a story and acted as though it were already true. How Our Brains Protect Us Reflecting further, I notice how often these inner stories are about keeping us safe. Our brains, in many ways, are doing their job—shielding us from pain or disappointment. But there’s a danger in allowing this protective instinct to overrule reality. When self-doubt or insecurity becomes the main script running…
People in this episode
Hosts: Eric Pennington, Jeff East
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