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Hi Soul Friends, it’s Tannaz Hosseinpour, and welcome back to another short solo episode of the Minutes on Growthpodcast.
Today, I want to talk about something that can completely shift the way you experience life:
The power of storytelling and meaning-making.
Because here’s the truth: It’s not always the problem that’s the problem—it’s the story we’ve created about the problem that holds us back.
Everything we experience is filtered through the meaning we assign to it—and that meaning is shaped by our past, our conditioning, and our subconscious beliefs.
In this episode, we’re going to:
- Explore how narrative therapy helps us separate ourselves from our problems.
- Understand the power of meaning-making and how it shapes our reality.
- Learn how to identify the limiting stories we’re telling ourselves.
- Discover practical tools to rewrite our inner narrative in a way that empowers and expands us.
So let’s begin.
We are all natural storytellers. From the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep, we are constantly making meaning out of the events in our lives.
But the question is: Is the meaning we assign to things empowering us or limiting us?
Let’s take an example.
Imagine two people lose their job on the same day.
Person A says:
“I got fired. This is proof that I’m not good enough, I’ll never be successful, and I should just settle for less.”
Person B says:
“I got fired. This is the universe redirecting me toward something better. This is an opportunity to realign with a career that truly excites me.”
Same event. Two completely different meanings.
And because of those different meanings, these two people will experience the same event in completely different ways.
Person A might spiral into self-doubt, hesitate to apply for new opportunities, and ultimately prove their limiting story to be true.
Person B might take inspired action, network, and find a career path even more aligned with their purpose.
This is how powerful the meaning we assign to things is.
So ask yourself:
- What meaning am I attaching to the things that happen in my life?
- Am I framing my experiences in a way that limits me or expands me?
Narrative Therapy: You Are Not Your Story
Narrative therapy is based on the idea that we are separate from our problems.
It helps us realize that we have the power to rewrite our experiences by changing the story we tell ourselves.
Here’s a simple way to start practicing narrative therapy in your own life:
- Externalize the problem
- Instead of saying “I am an anxious person”, say “I am experiencing anxiety, but I am not anxiety.”
- Instead of saying “I am stuck”, say “I am feeling stuck in this moment, but I am capable of movement.”
When we separate ourselves from the issue, we give ourselves the power to change it.
- Question the story
- Where did this story come from?
- Is this my belief, or was it conditioned into me by society, family, or past experiences?
- Is this the only possible story, or is there another way to see this?
- Rewrite the meaning
- What is a more empowering meaning I can assign to this situation?
- How can I reframe this experience in a way that serves me?
Shifting Your Story in Real Time
Let me share another real-life example.
I once had a client who was struggling with rejection. Anytime she wasn’t chosen for a promotion she would tell herself:
“This always happens to me. I’m not worthy. I’ll never be enough.”
She had built an entire narrative around rejection—one that reinforced self-doubt and unworthiness.
So we got curious with it – what was another way to look at the rejection?
What if we reframed it to mean that she wasn’t being “rejected.” She was being redirected.
The meaning she had assigned to rejection was: “I’m not good enough.”
But she could just as easily shift that to: “This is not meant for me. The right opportunity is still on its way.”
We spent time and energy embedding this new belief in her subconscious mind
And the moment she started rewriting the meaning of her experiences, everything shifted.
And you can do this too.
Practical Steps to Rewrite Your Story
- Become aware of the dominant story you’re telling yourself.
- What is the common theme in your inner dialogue?
- If your life was a book, what would the title of your story be?
- Is this story limiting you or empowering you?
- Find the origin of the story.
- Who taught you this?
- Was this belief passed down to you by parents, culture, or past experiences?
- Does this belief still serve the person you are today?
- Create a new, empowering meaning.
- What is another way to look at this situation?
- If your best friend had this experience, what advice would you give them?
- What new belief will allow you to feel more at peace and in alignment?
- Reinforce the new story through action.
- Your subconscious will need proof that this new story is true.
- Start looking for evidence that supports your new belief.
- Surround yourself with people, books, and experiences that reinforce this new narrative.
At the end of the day, we are not just experiencers of life—we are storytellers of life.
The meaning we assign to events shapes our emotions, our actions, and ultimately, our future.
So today, I invite you to ask yourself:
- What story have I been telling myself about who I am?
- What new meaning can I give to my experiences that will empower me?
- How can I rewrite my narrative into one of growth, resilience, and self-trust?
Because you are not your past. You are not your fears.
You are the author of your own story. And you can turn the page at any moment.
Thank you for being here today. If this episode resonated with you, let me know—I’d love to hear the story you’re rewriting. Until next time, take care and keep growing.
Minutes on Growth 