Story Quote by Eleanor Brown
““We all have stories we tell ourselves. We tell ourselves we are too fat, or too ugly, or too old, or too foolish. We tell ourselves these stories because they allow us to excuse our actions and they allow us to pass off the responsibilities for things we have done, maybe for something within our control, but anything other than the decisions we have made. . . There are times in our lives that we have to realize that our past is precisely what it is and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, 2010
We create self‑limiting narratives to avoid responsibility; recognizing and rewriting them lets us shape a better future.
In simple terms: Stories we tell ourselves limit us; changing them changes outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Rewrite self‑story to gain agency.
Themes
self‑awareness
responsibility
personal growth
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- coaching
- journaling
- habit change
- goal setting
Key Concepts
narrative psychology
self‑compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- What story are you telling about your past?
- How can you reframe it to empower future actions?
A Different Perspective
Changing a story doesn’t erase past consequences; it requires honest effort.
