Tony Robbins teaches, “The story that protects you can also imprison you.”

The story we tell ourselves about ourselves, and the stories we tell others about ourselves, greatly affects us in many ways. There is no way we can tell every single detail of our life story. If we tried, it would take the same amount of time to tell our story as it took us to live it. So, instead, we tell the highlights of our story.

Our stories define us. Good or bad, optimistic or pessimistic, positive or negative, creative or destructive, the story we tell, and how we tell it, matters a great deal. Our stories can change and be re-framed, just like our beliefs. Is the story you tell one of a survivor and a warrior, or one of a helpless victim? Have you ever thought about WHY you tell the story you do?

A story can be full of excuses as to why we aren’t as successful or fulfilled as we could have been. This is the type of story that will imprison us, trap us, and continue to hold us back and keep us down. This type of storytelling makes us a victim, creates a life with a fixed mindset, and takes away our strength and power.

Instead, we can practice telling an exciting story! We can tell a story of adventure, strengths that came from failures, wisdom that came from experiences, and love that blossomed from heart ache. We can tell a story of how we went through hell, but never quit. We can tell a story of exposure to new and interesting things which empowered us to learn, adapt, and recalibrate for future successes, deep and meaningful connections made along the way, and a story that expresses gratitude and happiness. The story we tell ourselves defines us. The story we tell others can influence how others define us. There is immense power in the creative words, “I AM…”

Today I will think about my own, personal story I tell and how and WHY I tell it. I will also ponder how my story will be told when I am gone, and choose to live a life worthy of the story and LEGACY I desire, each moment of every day. I will decide the legacy and the footprint that I want to leave behind, and focus on making that happen, every day, for the rest of my life. I decide, here and now, to intentionally live a meaningful, fulfilling, life of purpose.

Our perceptions of self and others matters a great deal. Here are some thoughtful insights regarding this fact:

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Remember: Mindset matters. Character counts. That which we choose to consistently focus on is everything!