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Narrative Identity: The Only Story That Matters is The One You Tell Yourself

You Are The Stories You Tell Yourself

Thomas Oppong
5 min readMar 21, 2023
Photo: Naassom Azevedo/Unsplash

Tony Robbins was right when he said, “We are defined by the stories we tell ourselves”

Our lives are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves.

These narratives are not just a recollection of past events but a continuous internal dialogue that defines how we view ourselves and the world.

Whether we realise it or not, the stories we tell ourselves can influence our thoughts, decisions, emotions, and behaviours, ultimately shaping the trajectory of our lives.

Psychologically, our reality is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, particularly those we believe.

Our beliefs and perceptions of the world are largely based on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, what we are capable of, and what we expect from others.

But the stories we tell ourselves are not always accurate or objective representations of reality. Instead, they are shaped by our experiences, biases, and interpretations.

For example, if you tell yourself you are not smart enough or not good at something, you may start to believe it and limit yourself from pursuing opportunities that require intelligence or skill in that area.

On the other hand, if you tell yourself you can achieve something significant in life, you are more likely to take action towards them and overcome obstacles along the way.

If you have a narrative identity that emphasises your strengths, achievements, and positive qualities, you are more likely to feel confident, capable, and motivated to act in ways that align with those qualities.

“We construct a narrative for ourselves, and that’s the thread that we follow from one day to the next. People who disintegrate as personalities are the ones who lose that thread, explains Paul Auster, a writer and film director.

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Thomas Oppong
Thomas Oppong

Written by Thomas Oppong

The wisdom of great minds. My essays cross between psychology, philosophy and self-improvement.

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