The Fictional Stories We Tell Ourselves: Decoding Our Inner Narratives
Unravel the power of our self-made stories and their impact on self-worth. Learn to differentiate fact from fiction and harness different perspectives.
Try 14 days freeBetter mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.
(shaker shakes) (mouse clicks) (uplifting music) Headspace Studios (gentle music) (water rushing) Hi there. Welcome to Radio Headspace, and to Wednesday. It's Eve here with you. Today I wanted to spend some time talking about the stories we tell ourselves and that very often what we believe is happening is actually fiction and not fact. I was speaking with a friend about this recently. She'd convinced herself that she was not going to get a job that she'd been interviewing for. In her final interview, where she was meeting the CEO, she was understandably a little nervous and she said she thought it showed. She walked away from the interview thinking that she'd tanked it and that she was never going to get the job. The story she was weaving in her mind was that she wasn't good enough for the job, the other candidates would never have been so nervous, and she definitely wasn't going to get it. Hopefully you can see where I'm going with this. It was all fiction. She got the job. Not only did she get the job, but she received glowing feedback from everyone. The CEO even sent her a message saying congratulations. (uplifting music) (water lapping) Our mind loves to make sense of the world by weaving narratives, but the power of the stories we tell ourselves can be very limiting and they really shape our perceptions and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us, which in turn can hold us back or impact our relationships. My friend spent so much time talking down to herself instead of seeing that there could be a completely different reality. She focused on all the little failures she perceived to have occurred. Of course, our past experiences can deeply impact the way in which we view ourselves, as well as societal influences, telling us that we're not suitable for a certain job or should've done things like buy a house or have children by a certain age. Stories like this can significantly impact our lives and mean that we don't believe in our own self-worth. (soft music) (water lapping) My husband and I have been going through fertility treatments. It's been deeply challenging experience with so many ups and downs and someone asked me the other day why hadn't I had children. Did I not want them? Now, I did not know this person well, so I was really taken aback and pretty upset that they would even ask this. I felt so judged and wanted to say, "We've been desperately trying." For days afterwards, I could not shake the storyline that we should have tried earlier, I should have a family by now, and now it's just not going to happen. It was my husband who helped me to come out of it. He told me this person knew nothing about us and that we were forging our own path and doing it our own way. Unhelpful stories like this can sometimes become self-fulfilling prophecies. The more...
Details
About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
Look after your mind
Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges
Science-backed
Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being
Explore 1000+ expert-led exercises
Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.
Member reviews
Hear from some of our members
Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.
Rachel
UK
Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.
Davide
London
The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.
Alicia
Canada
Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Keri
UK
Related to 'The Fictional Stories We Tell Ourselves Decoding Our Inner'
- © 2024 Headspace Inc.
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy policy
- Consumer Health Data
- Your privacy choices
- CA Privacy Notice