What is the difference between who you really are, and the story that you tell yourself about who you are? Yep, read that again.

We all have a story we’ve constructed about ourselves over time. Maybe it started with a traumatic experience when you were young, or a childhood spent hearing words you still believe. Even if you think that you have no story, I would bet that you probably do.

And what do these stories do for you? Well, for some, they give confidence and direction and for others they may hold you back from success and true potential.

That little girl with the pigtails who loved rearranging the furniture in her room, and writing poetry? Who never liked running and always felt slow, who was shy but really wanted friends? It is still the girl I struggle to reshape today. She is clumsy, stubborn, can lack confidence, awkward and doesn’t feel like she will ever be as good as those around her. She still hates running and still wants to be fast at something. Going on 45 years old and still believing the stories about who I am. The stories in my head. I know that I will never feel successful, fulfilled and truly happy in life until I finally rewrite the story of who I really am.

What are your stories? Which ones help you and which ones harm you, which ones would you like to rewrite, how do we rewrite the stories we’ve been telling ourselves for so many years?

Who you are, what you like, what you don’t like, how you feel, what you dream, what drives you. Getting rid of the “shoulds" and creating the “wants.” Dig deep and open up, meditate, journal, find a therapist, go for long walks, pay attention to where your mind wanders when you’re quiet. Is there something you’d like to change? Something you’d like to improve, habits you want to break, habits you want to create? Define them and repave the path you have laid out for yourself, be directionless and embrace it. See where you might go! Don’t be held back by the tiny pins and ropes from the past, the words of old memories that speak to you, stop them and create new ones.

This small, shy, pigtailed girl with few friends and little confidence often finds herself climbing mountains on two wheels, squatting barbells, sprinting the track and trying new things that scare the shit out of her. It is the only way she knows how to rewrite her story. Scared of the water? Hate the wind? Then conquer it! Do things you always told yourself you could.not.do.