TELLING YOUR STORY IS IN YOUR NATURE
People have always told stories to each other. It’s part of how we make sense of the world. We thrive on telling each other stories about our daily lives, aspirations, opinions, histories, and more.
It’s equally true that we are hard-wired to tell stories TO OURSELVES, ABOUT OURSELVES, and these may be the most potent stories of all. Unfortunately, we’re often unaware of what we’re saying, repeatedly, that’s impacting our outlook on life and our happiness.
STORY AFFIRMATIONS
I have a name for a particular kind of story you can intentionally tell yourself, about yourself: Story Affirmations.
As you know, Affirmations are statements you can make to AFFIRM something you either know to be true or want to emphasize. They can be used to counter-balance unhelpful narratives that are circulating beneath the surface of your daily thoughts.
Affirmations make your thinking more intentional. With practice, they influence how you see yourself and what you do in response to these self-opinions.
STORY AFFIRMATIONS are brief stories you can craft about yourself, stories that are more comprehensive than individual affirmations. They are designed to be aspirational, and to address what’s most important to you.
When you read your Story Affirmation aloud with regularity and sincerity, your perception shifts, you’ll begin to integrate fresh ideas. You may notice, too, that you expect more and receive more from life.
This can help you to express aspects of your identity that were being overshadowed or overlooked in the past.
“Your brain is not reacting to the world. It is constructing your experience of the world.”
Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett
2 EXAMPLES of Story Affirmations
“I really enjoyed working with Meriah… During our consultation she allowed me to see all the magnificent things I had accomplished in the world. She helped me curate a (story) that sparkled and gleamed with the essence of me. Her ability to tap into her clients’ needs is truly a gift. Thank you Meriah for your wisdom and support.”
Try it yourself! Here’s a Do-it-yourself mini-process for beginning YOUR Story Affirmation
Begin by asking yourself these 4 sample questions from the Sovereign Renaissance Woman Questionnaire. Doing so will help you bring deeper thoughts and feelings to the surface and choose an area to focus on.
- What are 3 truths about yourself, that if you remembered them frequently and gave them prominence in your thinking, would shift the way you see your future?
- What are 3 things you helped make happen that you’re proud of ? What do those accomplishments say about you?
- What matters to you most about your next 10 years?
- What do you most want to affirm and come to believe with your whole heart?
Then, take these answers and begin writing, in positive, present-day, I AM language a brief story you would LIKE TO BE TRUE in the Future, and state it as if it was happening right now.
Read your story and be sure it MOVES you… this is a place for emotional language that touches you deeply and stirs up your Vision of a bright and beautiful future.
Begin reading it aloud every day and watch what happens!
It’s simple but also not easy. That’s why you might want some help…
HOW would You and Meriah jointly CRAFT YOUR STORY AFFIRMATION?
1st. You complete a Sovereign Renaissance Woman Personal Questionnaire
2nd. You and Meriah discuss your completed questionnaire. This conversation and what you’ve written become the core elements of your Story Affirmation.
3rd. Meriah writes a first draft of your Story Affirmation, and shares it with you for your input
4th. The two of you speak a second time, this time for you to share your views and requests about the first draft.
5th. Meriah edits your Story Affirmation as you’ve requested. She shares the final version with you!
Now it’s yours forever, to repeat as often as you like, by reading it silently or aloud, or sharing it with a loved one, or even recording in your own voice so you can listen to it anytime you wish..
Cost: $ 397
I have found the affirmations to be very empowering. I added a statement that ‘I and I alone, have the power to impact my health on a daily basis.’ Because I tend to think long term and have plans that are far reaching. But, like another member of our group said, sometimes there’s just a moment in a coffee shop when you realize: I can choose to have that impact or not. So, as part of my affirmation, I’ve included a special statement about daily empowerment, and that’s been really helpful to me.” Beth Gaunce, Harrodsburg, KY, Freedom from Sugar group