How changing your story can change your life | Lori Gottlieb | TED

Recent questions

• How does changing our narratives lead to personal growth?

  By changing the stories we tell ourselves, we can experience personal growth. The therapist in the summary highlights the importance of understanding that everyone's story is subjective and may not reveal the full truth. Our stories shape our lives, and revising these narratives can lead to freedom and change. The therapist compares her role to that of an editor, helping people revise their stories to promote personal growth. By identifying unsupportive characters in our stories and offering compassionate truth bombs to challenge our narratives, we can break free from self-imposed limitations and create new paths for ourselves.

• How can viewing a story from another perspective lead to change?

  Viewing a story from another character's perspective can lead to empathy and open up new possibilities for change. In the summary, a second letter is shared, highlighting a husband's perspective on his strained relationship. By understanding different viewpoints, individuals can break free from feeling trapped and resisting change due to fear of the unknown. The power of editing our stories lies in letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing new narratives for personal growth. This shift in perspective can help individuals create new paths for themselves and avoid being stuck in misery.

• What role does fear play in resisting change?

  Fear plays a significant role in resisting change. Many stories in the summary revolve around feeling trapped and resisting change due to fear of the unknown. The therapist encourages readers to identify unsupportive characters in their stories and challenge their narratives with compassionate truth bombs. By recognizing and addressing these fears, individuals can break free from self-imposed limitations and create new paths for personal growth. Fear can hold us back from embracing new narratives and shaping our own stories, but by confronting these fears, we can move towards positive change.

• How do limiting beliefs impact personal growth?

  Limiting beliefs can significantly impact personal growth. In the summary, the speaker emphasizes the power of editing our stories by letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing new narratives. Depression distorts perspectives, leading to narrow and distorted stories. When individuals create narratives through a limited lens, they become their own fake-news broadcasters. By revising our stories and considering different viewpoints, we can break free from self-imposed limitations and create new paths for personal growth. Recognizing and challenging these limiting beliefs is crucial for shaping our own stories and promoting positive change.

• What advice does the therapist offer for shaping our narratives?

  The therapist in the summary offers advice for shaping our narratives to promote personal growth. Help-rejecting complainers resist suggestions for change, clinging to their unhappy stories. The therapist encourages individuals to recognize their power in shaping their narratives and aim for personal growth and a positive outlook on life. By revising our stories, considering different viewpoints, and challenging unsupportive characters in our narratives, we can break free from self-imposed limitations and create new paths for ourselves. Embracing new narratives and letting go of limiting beliefs are key steps in shaping our stories for personal growth and positive change.