We adopt ideas from our childhood, our families, and our friends about what kind of person we are. When other people tell us we are a “bad child” over and over, we often grow up believing that. The same is true when people say we are “smart” “difficult” “pretty” or “good at sports.”

We then believe that these ideas define us, and we limit our true potential because we close off to the infinite other possibilities that might bring us joy.

Now allow me to explain using a more personal example. For almost my entire life I grew up believing that I was not a “story writer.” Believe it or not, I actually flunked story writing assignments in school!

So when I saw my former wife Laura writing stories, I falsely believed that SHE was the story writer… not me. Based on my past, I didn’t think I was “good enough” at story writing to actually be a writer.

Can you imagine how limiting this way of thinking is?

If I had continued to believe that my past failures at story writing actually defined me, then I would not be writing this to you today. Now think about how this applies in your own life. If somebody were to ask, “Who are you?” What would you answer?

Would you answer, “I’m a story writer?”

If you’re even the slightest bit like I was, then that’s probably the last label you’d use to identify yourself! Make no mistake about it though, the more you identify with any labels, the more you are limiting your personal growth.

It doesn’t matter if the label is “good” or “bad,” identifying with labels means that you are constantly missing opportunities to experience your greatest joy, happiness, and abundance that you deserve.

The contrast couldn’t be more vivid. On one hand you have the very few people who “get it.” They seem to be happy all the time even when things aren’t going well… and then there’s other people who seem to always be unhappy no matter how many good things happen in their life. Identifying with labels has the power to impact us that deeply.

Which one do you want to be?

Today I’d like to share with you an excerpt from my program “Inscribe Your Life®” Although it is brief, I think this really gets to the heart of the matter and shows why anybody, including you, can write stories and experience significant personal transformation.

After you finish reading, remember to leave a comment!

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Begin Excerpt From Inscribe Your Life®

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We often choose the story format because it’s both easier for many people to relate to and because the short format allows us to keep a reader’s attention long enough to communicate the messages we are trying to convey.

For those of us drawn to a spiritual path, the question “Why?” is likely to be very prevalent in our lives. Sometimes we may be questioning why we engage in a specific behavior, maybe we are asking why certain patterns emerge in our lives or why specific things happened, perhaps we are wondering why certain things haven’t happened, or just why we exist.

Regardless of what we are inquiring about, the question of “Why?”
also applies to stories. Alan Dolit sums it up best when he says to
ask yourself these two questions:

What is it for?

Why do I want to do this instead of doing something else?

Different motives for writing can produce entirely different stories. The primary motive for most writers I have interviewed is to share wisdom with others in hope of shortening their spiritual evolutionary path. Sometimes, we write in hopes of inspiring other people. However, contrary to popular belief, not all stories are meant to be read. Yes, you read that correctly, and it is important enough to write again:

Not all stories are meant to be read.

How can that be, you ask? Sometimes a story is like a journal. We might write it as our own internal monologue to help us work through issues we may have, or we might write to help explore other facets of our personality… or even our experience of reality as we see it.

More often than not, writing stories is about a little bit (or a lot) of all of the above. Rarely is it one or the other, but rather, it is an expression of our holistic self connecting both with ourself and others. It allows those of us who have never considered ourselves to be “writers” to find great enjoyment and meaning in writing our own stories.

Understanding the more personal elements of writing enables us to get past some of the fears and roadblocks we might have about being a “good” writer or a “bad” one, or whether our audience will enjoy the story or not.

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Questions? Comments? Thoughts?

In this video, I’ve shared with you some of my stories relating to will. What are some of yours? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so write them in the comments below!

Creating stories can do so much for us. In this audio interview you’ll hear how Jason, one of the people I’ve coached, used the Inscribe Your Life® process to help heal himself and his family after the loss of his father. You’ll discover how writing stories can impact your own life – plus how you can use story to let go, heal, celebrate, and share!