“There is no real ending.”
Frank Herbert, Dune
Humans crave narratives. We build our own experiences into stories so we can connect the dots of our past. This helps us understand where we’ve been and injects meaning into successes, failures, and the struggles along the way. Stories are a powerful tool of a uniquely human origin.
Take caution—when we build experiences into a story, there is a natural constriction that takes place. As themes emerge, details are lost. We lose nuance and, with it, the truth. While stories are excellent at capturing facets, they cannot claim the whole picture. Through this, they may force us into roles that, slowly and surely, we no longer fit.
Are your stories empowering you or are they imprisoning you? Think about the memories you hold closest, the common motifs you tell yourself. What ideas do you need to update? Which ones do you need to let go?