Why do some moments feel enormous while others vanish from memory? Why do two people experience the same event and walk away with completely different interpretations? And why do we so often repeat stories about ourselves that keep us stuck?
In this episode, we explore narrative identity—the science-backed idea that who we are is shaped not just by what happens to us, but by the story we tell about what happens.
But small shifts in perspective can radically change those narratives. In this episode we unpack what it means to notice the script, question it, and rewrite it.
We also dive into the research showing that the ability to find agency and redemption in our stories is one of the strongest predictors of mental health.
Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:
Emory University blog: Changing the narrative of your self
Leo Babauta for ZenHabits.net: Mental Badassery: Becoming Aware of the Stories We Tell Ourselves
Listen to David Foster Wallace's commencement speech at Kenyon College.
Samantha Boardman for Psychology Today: Take Control of the Story You Tell About Yourself
Bruce Feiler for The New York Times: The Stories That Bind Us
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
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What Fresh Hell podcast, mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, narrative identity, personal narratives, storytelling and identity, self story psychology, meaning making, memory and perception, how the brain creates meaning, cognitive bias, sense of self, psychology of storytelling, rewriting your story, mental health and narratives, agency and redemption, neuroscience of identity, parenting and mindset, family narratives, personal growth podcast, self awareness psychology, behavioral psychology, mindset shifts
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