Some of us become trapped in narratives from our past. And because of that we live in unhappiness and dysfunction.
For example, most at TLC have a long history of drug use. Of crime. Of irresponsibility. Of not having accomplished much in their lives.
And if they identify with this negative history - as many do - then it's hard to go beyond. And those who do, must put forth a heroic effort to change.
But if we move the boundaries of our thinking we can change our lives.
Instead of telling ourselves that we're an addict, an ex-con, or a loser we can reframe our thinking. We can instead tell ourselves something different that may change the course of our life.
We could start looking at our past as a series of wrong choices brought on by whatever. Maybe we had an abusive upbringing. Perhaps we hung out with the wrong people. Maybe we had no moral compass as a child. The reasons we lived the way we did aren't important now. The past offers no solution.
It's important for us to write a new script. One that says "That's who I used to be. Today I'm taking a turn, going on a different path. I'll recreate myself."
A simple thought exercise like this can re-shape our view of who we are. When we do that, change is easier.
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