Rewriting the Stories That Shape Your Life
“The most powerful stories are the ones we tell ourselves.”— Brené Brown
What if life’s greatest challenges don’t come from what happens to us, but from how we interpret those events and the narratives we create around them?
This question lies at the heart of Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller. Drawing from insights in neuroscience and personal development, the authors reveal a powerful truth: the stories we tell ourselves—often unconsciously—shape our beliefs, behaviors, and the results we get in life.
The good news is that those stories are not set in stone. We can rewrite them!
A Simple Framework for Transformation
Hyatt and Miller introduce a practical three-step process to help you shift your mindset and create better outcomes in any area of life:
1. Identify the Story
Start by noticing what your inner narrator is saying. What beliefs are driving your reactions? What assumptions are you making?
Common internal scripts might sound like:
“There’s no way around this.”
“I’m just not good at that.”
“It’s always been this way.”
These thoughts may feel like facts, but actually they’re stories – interpretations you’ve unconsciously adopted over time.
2. Interrogate the Story
Once you’ve identified a limiting narrative, question it. Ask yourself:
Is this really true?
Where did I learn this?
What evidence supports – or contradicts - it?
What would an outside observer say?
This step helps disrupt confirmation bias and opens the door to new perspectives. It reminds you that your current interpretation isn’t the only possible version.
3. Imagine a New Story
Now comes the shift. Replace limiting beliefs with ones that empower you and align with the life you want to create.
Try reframing:
“I failed, so I’m a failure” → “Failure is feedback, it’s how I grow.”
“There’s never enough time” → “I’ll begin with what I have and trust more time will follow.”
This isn’t about denying challenges or forcing positivity. It’s about choosing a narrative that helps you move forward, not one that keeps you stuck.
Discomfort: A Gateway to Possibility
One of the most powerful insights in the book is this:
“Uncertainty is not the enemy; it points not to chaos but to possibility.” – Megan Hyatt Miller
Most of us try to avoid uncertainty. But what if leaning into it – rather than resisting it – opens us up to creative solutions and unexpected breakthroughs?
Growth often begins where comfort ends. By questioning your old stories, you invite in the possibility of something new.
Tools to Shift Your Thinking
Mind Your Mindset doesn’t just offer theory—it provides actionable tools you can start using right away.
Possibility Questions
These questions help you think beyond your default patterns:
What does this make possible?
What would it take to move forward?
Who could offer a different perspective?
What if I wasn’t afraid to fail?
Push Back Technique
Challenge your brain’s first response:
What if the opposite were true?
What would a child say about this?
If I were starting fresh, how would I do it differently?
Free Self-Coaching Tool
The authors offer a free tool to help you examine and rewrite your internal stories. Download it here: https://fullfocus.co/self-coacher/
Your Life is a Story
Mind Your Mindset is a reminder that you are the narrator of your life, and you have the power to rewrite your story.
You don't have to change your whole life overnight. Just begin with one belief that’s keeping you stuck. Question it. Reframe it. Choose a version that helps you grow.
What new stories will you tell?