Not all the stories we tell are for an audience. Sometimes the most powerful, and damaging, stories are the ones we tell ourselves.
There’s one question I ask every client when they come to me with a problem: “What story are you telling yourself about that?”
Because here’s what I’ve learned—behind every stuck pattern, every creative block, every time you delete what you just wrote, there’s a story. And nine times out of ten, it’s complete fiction.
The Scripts Running in the Background
We all have them. The stories that play on repeat in our heads like broken records.
“If I put myself out there, people will see I’m a fraud.”
“If I’m not perfect, no one will take me seriously.”
“If I slow down for even a second, I’ll lose everything.”
These aren’t facts. They’re just stories we’ve been telling ourselves for so long that we’ve forgotten they’re made up.
But here’s the thing about stories—when you believe them, they become your reality. When you act from them, they shape your behavior. When you write from them, they leak into every word.
In fiction writing, we call this the character’s misbelief and we add them to stories because they are so very human. We all have one..or two…or a trunk full of them. And they get us off track as easily as they do fictional characters.
The Story Behind the Struggle
I had a client who couldn’t finish anything. Blog posts sat in drafts. Courses stayed half-built. Every piece of content got revised into oblivion.
“I just want it to be good,” she kept saying.
But when we dug deeper, we found the real story: “If it’s not perfect, people will know I don’t belong here.”
That story had been running her life for years. It showed up in her endless editing, her fear of hitting publish, her need to research just a little bit more before she felt ready.
The story felt true. It felt protective. But it was keeping her invisible.
What I Do Differently
Most people try to fix the symptoms. They give you content templates and publishing schedules and productivity hacks.
I go after the source code.
I listen for the stories hiding behind your words. I watch for the patterns in how you talk about your work. I help you see the narrative you’ve been living so you can decide if it’s the one you want to keep.
Because here’s what I know: you can have the best strategy in the world, but if your internal story is sabotaging you, nothing else will work.
How We Rewrite the Script
First, we name the story. We drag it out of the shadows and look at it clearly. Most of the time, just seeing it for what it is (fiction, not fact) is enough to loosen its grip.
Then we test it. Is this story actually true?
Finally, we write a better one. Not some fluffy affirmation that your brain will reject, but a story that’s both true and useful. A story that moves you forward instead of keeping you stuck.
This isn’t therapy. It’s story work. It’s helping you see that you’re not a victim of your circumstances—you’re the author of your next chapter.
The Truth About Change
Change doesn’t happen because you think positive thoughts. It happens when you change the story you’re telling yourself about what’s possible.
Your brain needs a new narrative to follow. It needs to see you as someone who finishes things, who shares imperfect work, who trusts their voice enough to use it.
Stories are how we make sense of the world. They’re how we decide who we are and what we’re capable of. And the beautiful thing about stories? You can always edit them.
When Everything Goes According to Plan
My dad used to say, “If everything goes according to plan, you have no good stories to tell.”
He was right. The best stories come from the messy middle, the unexpected turns, the moments when everything falls apart and you have to figure out what comes next.
Your business story doesn’t have to be perfect. Your content doesn’t have to be flawless. Your voice doesn’t have to sound like everyone else’s.
What it has to be is yours. And it has to be true.
The Story You’re Ready to Tell
If you’re tired of the stories that keep you small, if you’re ready to write a new chapter, if you want your content to finally sound like you—then it’s time to look at the narratives running your life.
Because the story you tell yourself becomes the story you live.
Ready to write a better one? Let’s work together.