Whenever we undertake a new change in our lives — whether it’s starting a new job or business, or changing a new habit — we tell ourselves a story about it. We’re the hero of our story. Unfortunately, it’s not usually a very good story — it involves the hero not believing he or she can do it — wanting to give up and give in to the easy route.
Imagine if the great stories of all time went along the lines of our stories:
- Harry Potter doesn’t fight Voldemort because it’s too hard. And anyway, he just wants to play games and go on Reddit.
- Odysseus decides not to make the journey home because he knows himself — he’s just going to give up. And anyway, isn’t the siren’s call of Facebook/Instagram too strong?
- Don Quixote never ventures out for adventure on his brave steed Rocinante, because he doesn’t think he can do it. And instead stays home with his books of romance.
- Frodo heads back to the Shire, because he doesn’t believe he has enough discipline to stick with something very long.
These would be horrible stories, wouldn’t they? Who would root for these dudes? The story we tell ourselves goes along these lines. They’re different for each of us, but if we’re not succeeding at something, it’s quite probably because we are telling ourselves the wrong story.
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