The stories we tell about ourselves, known as our narrative identities, have a huge impact on our well-being and ability to achieve personal goals.Here’s how you can use this to your advantage
mind
January 4, 2023
Fabrizio Wrench
We all know what a good story is. Our hero begins his journey as a flawed yet relatable being with personal goals. Scene after scene, they face challenges and setbacks to embark on new paths. By the end of the story, they’ve won and become better people in the process. Think Jane Eyre, Luke Skywalker, and Gilgamesh.
We love these storylines, in the novels we read, the movies we watch, and the video games we play. To do. Recent research has shown that the stories we tell ourselves about our lives can powerfully shape our resilience to stress. This is the flawed hero effect.
Even better, psychologists suggest that weaving our memories into a well-told life story, and seeing our future as an extension of this story, can help us achieve our desire for self-improvement. Also, if you’re turning a new page, it’s helpful to pick a significant date that marks the beginning of a new “chapter.” Contrary to popular skepticism, the resolutions made on January 1st are more effective for this reason. So whether your goal is to save money, study for an exam, quit smoking, or get healthy, there’s never been a better time to start. You need to know how to improve your willpower, improve your health, and create a better version of yourself.
The first protagonist in the burgeoning field of narrative psychology…
