This Story Is About You

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Abstract

hy do I have these thoughts about you, dear reader, when I write? Because I am a storyteller. In fact, we all are. When we do anything that even approaches interacting with another, we tell a story to ourselves about how the other is receiving us.And so many times, we get it wrong. So what if we get a made-up story in our head wrong? It only hurts us when it hurts us. If I let my story about you hating me and my writing prevent me from writing, then I have hurt myself. I don’t want to hurt myself.<h2 id="3dc3">So what can we do?</h2><ul><li>Tell a better story. The truth is that I have a small following here and that many of you lovely people do read my stuff and sometimes even comment or clap. That is a story I can tell myself that is at its root, much better because it is the truth. True stories are always better.</li><li>Stop telling stories. I am someone who can have a lot of

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negative talk in my head. My neighbor didn’t wave to me when she drove by? I will fill my head in with a story about how she is probably mad at me and even go so far as to imagine some reason why. And depending on my story, I may not even attempt to wave at my neighbor the next time I see her. Do I need this story? Can I convince myself to just let that go? There are so many stories that can match up to her not waving. Sun in her eyes, daydreaming, etc. My negative story is only hurting me. Maybe this situation doesn’t need a story.</li></ul>You’re probably not still reading. Wait, you are. Thank you. And Happy New Year. May 2022 be a year of better storytelling.📕 Enjoy my work? Click <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/angiesmartt">here</a> to support! ❓ Not a member of Medium? Support me by joining Medium <a href="https://angiesmartt.medium.com/membership">here</a></article></body>

When the stories we tell ourselves about other people hurt us

You don’t like me. You don’t think I’m a good writer and who am I kidding, you’re probably not even reading this.

This is all false information. If you clicked on this, there is something you like about me, or at least what I am putting on the page. Also if you read the above sentences, you are most assuredly reading this.

So why do I have these thoughts about you, dear reader, when I write? Because I am a storyteller. In fact, we all are. When we do anything that even approaches interacting with another, we tell a story to ourselves about how the other is receiving us.

And so many times, we get it wrong. So what if we get a made-up story in our head wrong? It only hurts us when it hurts us. If I let my story about you hating me and my writing prevent me from writing, then I have hurt myself. I don’t want to hurt myself.

So what can we do?

Tell a better story. The truth is that I have a small following here and that many of you lovely people do read my stuff and sometimes even comment or clap. That is a story I can tell myself that is at its root, much better because it is the truth. True stories are always better.

Stop telling stories. I am someone who can have a lot of negative talk in my head. My neighbor didn’t wave to me when she drove by? I will fill my head in with a story about how she is probably mad at me and even go so far as to imagine some reason why. And depending on my story, I may not even attempt to wave at my neighbor the next time I see her. Do I need this story? Can I convince myself to just let that go? There are so many stories that can match up to her not waving. Sun in her eyes, daydreaming, etc. My negative story is only hurting me. Maybe this situation doesn’t need a story.

You’re probably not still reading. Wait, you are. Thank you. And Happy New Year. May 2022 be a year of better storytelling.

📕 Enjoy my work? Click here to support! ❓ Not a member of Medium? Support me by joining Medium here