You Don’t Have to Be Bound by False Stories
As one year comes to an end and another begins, many of us naturally pause.
- We reflect on what’s been.
- We think about what didn’t work.
- We set intentions for what we hope will be different next time around.
But for many people, there’s something deeper going on beneath all of that.
A sense of being stuck. Blocked. Disenchanted — not just with life, but sometimes with the world itself.
If that resonates, you’re not alone.
When Everything Falls Apart
Around nine or ten years ago, my own world fell apart.
I lost my father.
I lost a worldview I’d carried for most of my life.
I lost a belief system that once gave me certainty.
At the time, it felt devastating.
Looking back now, it was the beginning of the most important journey I’ve ever taken — a journey into understanding how deeply our lives are shaped by the stories we inherit, absorb, and repeat.
We have the stories that have been told to us, the stories that we tell ourselves and the stories we choose to accept moving forward. All of these things can affect our attitude and how we react to certain situations.
The Elephant and the Rope
There’s a story I’ve always loved.
A man is walking down the road and notices a circus elephant standing alone in a field. This huge, powerful animal is tied to a small peg in the ground with a thin piece of rope.
The man is baffled.
The elephant could pull the peg out of the ground with almost no effort — yet it doesn’t even try.
Later, he asks the trainer how this is possible.
The trainer explains that when the elephants are young, they’re chained to a large tree. They pull and pull, sometimes hurting themselves, until eventually they stop trying. Over time, they become conditioned to believe that anything around their leg means they are trapped.
So when the chain is replaced with a simple rope, the belief remains — even though the reality has changed.
We have beliefs that hold us Back
That story isn’t really about elephants.
It’s about us.
From childhood onwards, we’re conditioned by:
- Our upbringing
- Our culture
- Religion
- Education
- Trauma and loss
- Praise and punishment
- The stories other people tell us about who we are
And eventually, the stories we tell ourselves. These stories, whether true or false, can limit us and cause fear or possibility in us.
So when life presents a challenge, we don’t respond freely — we respond from habit. From fear. From old narratives that may no longer serve us.
Just like that small rope, our false narratives on our life can be like that chain holding us from our true potential.
The Stories We’re Afraid to Pull On
There are certain stories we’re especially afraid to question.
- For some people, it’s religion.
- For others, it’s family expectations.
- For others, it’s identity, worth, success, or shame.
Pulling on those stories can feel terrifying — like tugging at a loose thread on a jumper, afraid it might unravel everything.
And sometimes… it does.
But what I’ve learned is this: unraveling isn’t always destruction.
Often, it’s freedom.
Awareness Is Where Freedom Begins
One of the most powerful practices I’ve learned is simply observing my own reactions.
- When fear shows up.
- When I’m triggered.
- When shame or guilt rises unexpectedly.
Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?”
I ask “What story is being activated right now?”
Where did it come from?
Who gave it to me?
And most importantly — is it still true for who I am today?
When you start peeling back those layers, something remarkable happens.
You gain choice.
You gain clarity.
You gain power.
Reauthoring Your Life
As we move into 2026, my invitation is simple:
Before you set goals…
Before you plan strategies…
Before you try to “fix” yourself…
Question the stories that shape your decisions.
Pull on the rope.
Some of the beliefs you’re living by will snap instantly. Others may take time. But every false story you let go of creates space for something truer, lighter, and more aligned to emerge.
- You don’t have to be bound by shame.
- You don’t have to be driven by fear.
- You don’t have to live inside narratives that were never yours to begin with.
You can reauthor your story.
And you deserve the life that comes from that freedom.
