“There is always room in your life for thinking bigger, pushing limits and imagining the impossible.” Tony Robbins
What story are you selling yourself at this very moment? How are you characterizing yourself, your life and the things you have going on?
We all have stories that we have put together.
We tell ourselves it is “our story”, we present it to other people as “our story” and it absolutely impacts the way we experience life.
It usually covers the important points we feel are essential … age, family, job, good things that have happened, bad things that have happened and anything else going on in our life.
I get it that we all have stories.
Stories help us put things in their nice, neat little box. They help us explain to other people and even ourselves who we think we are and what we are capable of.
The issue is not that we have these stories, but rather that in most instances the stories are limited or incomplete.
We create a story that is filled with limitations and it only tells a part of our real story.
I know that my story was absolutely incomplete and filled with all kinds of limitations. The crazy thing was that I didn’t even realize it.
I had accomplished a lot of the things I wanted in life. I was living really well. I had everything I thought I wanted.
What a great story right?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I was and continue to be absolutely grateful to have that story and all the things in my life that were a part of “my story”.
There was nothing wrong with “my story” … there was just more to it.
And, the problem is that we allow these stories to define us and what is possible. So, if you stop the story too soon without including all that is really possible and everything you are really capable of, you are completely selling yourself short.
That’s why we have to continually be looking to expand our story and free it of any artificial limitations we have either knowingly or unknowingly created.
How?
Well, the first place to start is to continually reflect on your potential and all that you are really capable of. That absolutely has to be a part of your story and how you define yourself. It will impact everything you think is possible and everything you choose to pursue.
So, TODAY think of what you are really capable of …
Now, multiply that by 10 …
And, multiply that by 100 …
Would you believe me if I told you that you still aren’t there?
I know it may be hard to re-frame for yourself what really is possible, especially if you are like me, and for years had thought you were already shooting for the stars (and even hitting some from time to time).
Although it may be cliché, it really is true … we are capable of more than we can even dream.
We have to allow what we think is possible to continually expand for us day after day.
And, then allow our true potential to impact “our story” and every single thing we do.
This is so interesting. I did a similar exercise at a women’s retreat I led a few weeks ago. The women, especially the older women, had a very hard time changing their story so something empowering and positive. It was more than just thinking it was challenging. Some seemed to think it was even wrong, like being arrogant or self-absorbed. I was very surprised the the depth of reluctance to extend compassion and positive, empowering energy towards themselves. I have thought about it since then, wondering if this is a culture, race, age, or what behind this value.
It reinforces the line from A Course in Miracles. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
Thought provoking article!
Hey Galen: That really is an interesting story and I think that is so great that you pushed people to redefine their own stories and limitations. I totally agree with you that it is so important and can really be empowering if you do it. It is interesting that people were so challenged to do it and even thought it was wrong. I think we are always reminded to be so humble that sometimes we can really overdo it. Thanks so much for the comment and for dropping by.
Hi Sibyl,
Very nice and uplifting post! I agree with you expecting the best and changing the story we tell is crucial. If we keep telling the same story ( I can’t do this, I can’t have this …) then we are creating limits on ourselves. We have to believe in the impossible. Thanks for sharing my friend
Hey Dia: Thanks for the comment. I am glad that you stopped by and shared your thoughts. You are so right that we have to believe in the impossible. I really believe once we do that, we will find out that less and less is actually impossible.
I appreciate all your articles, they are pretty uplifting, but it is so easy to speak on such positive things, i find it hard practicing them sometimes especially when you are going something physical like sickness, when you wake up with pain and after months of praying even years still you don’t get better, you aim for the stars after a while you begin to just ask for something small like just having an hr of no pain. Then you think of all those sick children who have hope everyday that they are going to get better but they don’t. Ok this is a bit depressing my bad
Thanks for the comment and the honesty. I really appreciate it and everything that you said. I do agree with you that sometimes it can be challenging to really be able to step back and look at things from a better perspective. I think the key is to do exactly what you said … take things one small step at a time. You may not immediately feel better, but if you can just continue to look at things in a better light and take one small step at a time, I do believe you will always feel better. Thank you again for your honesty and dropping by.
such an inspiring post sibyl, i enjoyed reading it
i will certainly expand my story
So great to hear Farouk. I am expanding mine as well:) Thanks for the comment and thanks for dropping by.
There is a great book called the “The Magic of Thinking Big.” I learned so much related to this notion from thie book and particularly the idea that the higher we strive for, even if we don’t reach it, the more progress and expansion we have achieved. We may reach our goals easily by selling ourselves short, but I would rather fall short of greatness than achieve mediocrity. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the way you put that … who on earth wants mediocrity? Thank you also for mentioning that book. It really sounds like a great one. Always great to have you here:)
I’ll gonna be off topic, but just noticed you reached 30000 fans while I was reading this post. It’s wonderful, congratulations, Sibyl, you fully deserve them! Thank you for being such a wise source of inspiration
I meant
not “:(“
Oana: Thank you so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it and am so happy to have such a great community of people to share this experience with. It really is so rewarding. Thanks for dropping by. I really appreciate it.
yes you are true sibyl….. we are capable more than we dream.
Isn’t that the greatest thing to realize?
Thanks so much for the comment and for stopping by.
hello sibyl
how are you?
apologies for the absence, i have taken up new responsibilities at work so i am really trying to create a balance with all i do and fingers crossed i am getting to that point.
with reference to your article on stories, it is true that sometimes we may tell half hearted, partial truth stories or incomplete stories for several reasons such as:
1. we may not have seen the importance of expanding our horizons because we are satisfied with our current state
2. we fail to face the realities of our present situation
3. we tend to hide from the truth perhaps because we feel ashamed, inadequate, lowly of certain events or we just prefer to live in deception rather than face the reality.
all these are just excuses and they actually skew our overall outlook.
i agree with reflecting on ones potential as well as expanding on it with a view to developing ones story. we must always sell or project ourselves properly especially not short of our potentials.
take care and enjoy the rest of the day
Hey Ayo: Always great to hear from you and I know how that is to have a lot going on and need to find balance:) I am sure you have found your perfect equilibrium. Thanks for sharing all that wisdom about why we may be selling ourselves things that aren’t true. I thought all 3 of those points were good and are really important to understand. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I am glad that I am included in your balance:)