How Our Narrative Identity Shapes Our Reality
Hello, fellow humans!
Today, let's explore the concept of narrative identity—the story we tell ourselves about who we are. Each of us has a narrative identity, but we might not always be aware of it or the power we have to change it.
Why is a Narrative Identity important?
A narrative identity is crucial because it influences:
How we feel about ourselves
How we respond to life’s challenges
How we relate to others
How we anticipate the future
Our narrative identity is never fixed; it continually evolves based on our life experiences. To understand it better, let's break it down into key chapters:
The Chapters of Our Narrative Identity
Foundation:
These are our early life experiences that shape our core beliefs and values. They model how we treat ourselves and others.
Key Life Events:
These are our challenges and achievements that shape our identity. The stories we tell ourselves about these moments influence how we feel about who we are.
Forward View:
This is based on our goals and aspirations. It relates to the vision we have for our lives and the actions we will take to get there. This chapter focuses on understanding past narratives to shape current and future goals, looking at legacy and impact.
The Power of Awareness
Being aware of our narrative identity allows us to make different choices that help us change our story in a direction that serves us best. It helps us recognize our strengths and where we feel vulnerable and insecure. Life isn't about what happens to us but how we interpret those events.
Changing Your Narrative
When we change our narrative identity to better serve us, we acknowledge our humanity. It's difficult to give others what we never had, especially if it wasn't modelled for us in our foundational chapters. However, we can change the script by first giving ourselves things like self-appreciation, kindness, and compassion. Tell yourself that you are deserving of all good things like love and acceptance. With internal validation, it becomes easier to offer it to others.
Practical Steps
Be Aware of Your Current Script:
Reflect on your internal thinking processes and how they shape your narrative identity.
Rewrite the Pages:
Change the parts of your story that no longer serve you. Align your narrative identity with the current and future stories you want to shape for yourself.
For more information on how to practice this, check out the video by Dr. Tracey Marks: The Story You Tell Yourself: Understanding Your Narrative Identity.
Conclusion
Understanding and reshaping our narrative identity is a powerful exercise. It helps us navigate life with greater awareness and intention. If you wish to know more, please reach out—I’d be happy to share my resources.
Sincerely,
Taahirah