What’s Your Story Costing You?
A horse revealed the stories we tell ourselves.
I once watched four women approach the very same horse.
Each one walked toward her with hope. And each time, the horse quietly walked away.
Within minutes, every woman had reached a different conclusion.
One believed, I didn’t try hard enough.
Another decided, That horse is unfriendly.
A third assumed, She must have been abused.
The fourth thought, She just doesn’t like me.
Same horse.
Same moment.
Same fifteen minutes in history.
Four completely different stories.
Then something interesting happened.
A few minutes later, that same horse calmly walked over to where all of us were standing and joined our conversation, perfectly content to be with us.
In that moment, every story those women had created was proven false.
It reminded me of something we all do.
When we’re emotionally triggered, we’re often not reacting to what actually happened. We’re reacting to the story we’ve attached to what happened—a story shaped by our past experiences, disappointments, fears, and beliefs.
Whenever I notice myself having a strong emotional reaction, I pause and ask myself five questions:
- What actually happened?
Just the facts. Nothing more. - What story did I create about it?
- What payoff am I getting by believing that story?
Even if the payoff is simply proving myself right. - What is that story costing me?
Every story gives us something. But when the cost becomes greater than the payoff, it’s time for one final question. - What else could also be true?
That single question creates space.
Space for curiosity instead of certainty.
Space for peace instead of fear.
Space for growth instead of staying trapped in an old narrative.
More often than we realize, the greatest obstacle in front of us isn’t the circumstance.
It’s the story we’ve chosen to tell ourselves about it.
And the beautiful thing is this:
Stories can be rewritten.
If you’ve found yourself questioning your confidence, your calling, or your next step, perhaps it isn’t your ability that’s holding you back—it’s the story you’ve been living. I’d love to help you uncover it and discover what else could be true. Schedule a conversation with me, and together we’ll begin rewriting the story that’s been limiting your future.
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