I talk to myself a lot. Out loud. Sometimes I don’t even realize it. I would like to think that it is a sign of extreme intelligence, but really, I think it is just a way for me to stay focused. If I hear myself saying something out loud then there is a better chance that I will remember it. My family is sort of used to it. Or it freaks them out a little and they don’t know what to do about it so they just leave me alone.
Even if you don’t talk out loud like me, you do talk to yourself. We all have an inner monologue that accompanies us throughout our day. This self-talk is the story we tell ourselves as we live our lives. It is the way we process our surroundings and experiences. It is the way we justify all of our decisions. It is influential in determining what will happen next.
What is the story that you tell yourself? Do you tell yourself that you are successful or that you are a loser? In your story are you a good person? Are you easy to get along with or are you difficult? Are you the victim that everyone else is out to get? Are you attractive? Do you have lots of people who care about you or are you completely alone?
The stories that we tell ourselves are often influenced by our feelings. Unfortunately, our feelings are fickle. They don’t always give us an accurate picture of what is really going on. Our feelings give us permission to overdramatize and narrow our perspective. Feelings change according to our circumstances and invite us to jump to conclusions before we have all of the information. They just aren’t always that reliable.
Rather than basing our stories on just feelings, we need to tell ourselves stories that are rooted in truth. We need to consider all of the information before we draw our conclusions. We need to find out what God has to say about us rather than listening to our circumstances. Stories that are established in the truth have creative power. We can change our lives by changing the narrative of our stories.
Dare to be the champion of your own story. Be the one who is bold, successful, smart, and attractive. Be the one who makes good decisions grounded in the truth. Most of all, be the one who loves others and is loved. That is the greatest story of them all.
