Everyone Wants To Be A Director

There's an old saying in the media world: “Everyone’s a director.” It gets thrown around whenever someone—often with no experience—has a strong opinion on how something should or shouldn’t be done.

While we can’t all be the director, the truth is that we spend a lot of time being the editor of our own lives. We shape a narrative about who we are, what we’re capable of, and what’s possible.

But here’s the thing about editing: it highlights a possible narrative, but it’s not the only one.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

We edit a personal narrative that we convince ourselves is the truth. But perception is not always reality—it’s just the version of reality we’ve accepted. That’s why eyewitness testimony is considered the most unreliable evidence in court. Our brains filter information, focusing only on what’s relevant to us.

We see what we expect to see. We tell ourselves a story about who we are.

But is it true? Or is it just the version we’ve accepted?

Think about these statements:

• "I'm not smart."

• "I'm an introvert."

• "I'm a night person."

• "I've always been unfit, so I always will be."

• "It’s just the way I was brought up."

• "I could never start a new career at my age."

• "I could never start my own business."

These are not facts. They’re stories—ones we’ve repeated so often that we don’t question them anymore. But where did they come from? And are they true just because we’ve accepted them?

Editing Your Narrative

Narrative psychology suggests that if you change the story you tell yourself, you can change your actions—and even your identity.

Consider these small edits to your internal script:

• I’m always learning, which means I’m getting smarter.

• I make an effort to meet people, so I get more comfortable with it.

• I’ll see if I can set a streak of days where I get up a bit earlier.

• I’ll go for a walk each day I get up earlier.

• I know a friend who grew up with me but lives a different kind of life now.

• I’ll research jobs where my lifelong experience is an asset.

• I’ll explore the world of the one-person digital business.

Your brain is adaptable. Through neuroplasticity, new beliefs and behaviors can rewire your thinking. But while it’s possible, it’s not easy.

The question is: Do you want to edit your own life, or let it be edited by others?

Two Books Worth Reading

• Mindset by Carol Dweck

• Personality Isn’t Permanent by Benjamin Hardy

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Want to take control of your personal narrative and build new habits? Check out my free mini-course:

How to Be a High Performer in Times of Change

Final Thought: The stories we tell ourselves shape our reality—but they are just that: stories. They are not absolute truths. You have the power to edit, rewrite, and retell your narrative.