The story you want to hear

We often tell ourselves a story while ignoring the truth. Reasons we do this is:

• To protect ourselves or others. Ignoring the truth is a defence mechanism. We'd rather believe a lie than own up to our own weakness.
• Because the truth can be hard to hear.
• Because we're so used to the story. Many people tell themselves the same stories again and again, so it starts to feel like the truth.

However, telling ourselves a lie rarely pays off the way the truth does. Stories we tell ourselves often lead us to adopt beliefs like: "I'm not good enough;" "I always make a mess."

• Recognise when you're telling yourself the story you rather want to hear. If you talk yourself into it or try to justify it, then it's probably a story, not the truth.
• Don't act based on the story. The more you support the story with actions and co...