There is a well-known saying that “we are our own worst enemy.”

Beware the personal narrative you create about yourself.  You know the kind – the unsubstantiated, probably negative or self-loathing story you make up in your mind about yourself, and then stick with, do not waver from, and even adamantly defend and maintain.   This story most probably does not serve you.  In fact, it probably works against your well-being and growth.

This personal narrative can be as simple as not folding more deeply into a yoga pose, or as complex as concluding that you are destined to be alone, without a partner, forever.  For example, in a yoga class, you may say “I’ve just always been tight,” simply accepting that you will be tight each time you come to your mat, instead of shifting your perspective to think “I am growing towards gradually becoming looser, in this muscle” or “my body is feeling a bit tighter today for any amount of reasons.”

I also call this a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”  For example, how many women do we know that walk around the world telling themselves: “there are just no good men out there!”  How many of those women look for, or find, a good man?  See what I mean?  Your personal narrative ends up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What self-defeating stories do you create in your mind?  For me, it was: “I am not creative,” “I am not good at technology,” “I am not athletic,” “I am not coordinated,” and “my marathon running legs will always be tight.”  These stories became my truth until I broke free from letting them define me.  Now, I have written a blog, created a website on my own, and became a certified yoga instructor.  And as for my legs, well let’s just say I am growing towards gradually loosening up those tight hamstrings.