As a result of all the driving I do these days, I try to make the time spent behind my steering wheel amount to something. I listen to podcast episodes during drive time with the aim of learning new stuff.
People who seem to have certain aspects of life figured out are always sharing their wisdom on these podcasts and I want some of that wisdom for my own.
This morning, someone very prominent in the personal development and business creation space told me during a podcast that I needed to give up some old crap.
WTF? I was shocked. How could she talk to me this way? What old crap was she referring to? My clothes? My fashionable winter boots?
Nope. She was referring to the crappy stories I’ve got going on in my head.
(How does she hear them anyway?)
I do have some crappy old tales repeating in my head and they won’t stop. In fact, the voice that’s telling them is still mocking me as I write this.
I’ve decided that this podcaster was right. I’ve had enough of this useless chatter.
I’m ripping these yarns out of my brain immediately.
Better still, I’m going to mentally pave over these old stories with a cerebral asphalt paver.
I’ll be burying them before they bury me.
Here are the Top 5 stories of very poor quality that I’m paving over in 2020.
It’s Too Late Bro. You missed your shot.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard myself say this in my head. I’m not actually sure it’s me saying it in there, but I hear people talking about me. Whoever is making this crap up and keeps repeating it will join the other refuse beneath the Meadowlands Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. New story = It’s never too late.
Having all the things you want is for other people. Not for you. (You duffus..)
This ridiculous bedtime story isn’t helping me sleep. It’s just pissing me off. So many individuals who are much more befuddled than me are crushing it right now. I’ve decided to respond to this chatter with a polite “thank you for sharing” and then focusing on the one positive thing I’ll be doing to acquire the things that are in my sights. Then I’ll get focused on the next step.
You’ll never get to your destination.
This admonishment is always “noodling” away in my noggin like butchered Beatles elevator music. I’m just going to continue chuckling though, as I toss this misguided ole blues singer down the elevator shaft. If he could treat classic Beatles tunes so maliciously, then he doesn’t know a thing about destinations… or Penny Lane for that matter. Besides, I’m here for the journey rather than the destination.
That’s It. I’m f@#ked. I’ve made another mistake.
Get out of here you cowardly voice of fear saying this! You know that I’ve handled every mistake I have ever made and learned a lesson every time. That’s how it goes. You get punched around and you bob and weave and then get up off the mat any way you can. Now take your wimpy complaints over into someone else’s brain before I crush you under my paving equipment.
Inanimate objects are out to get me. (Especially when I’m not looking.)
I’m still working on this. It might seem silly but there was a time when I thought that all inanimate objects were out to mess with me. I believed that things were falling over, breaking and tools never worked and objects got in my way just to thwart my efforts. I cursed them all.
I realize now that I must plan more, leave more time and increase my focus. If I’m late and the damned shrink film won’t go around my turkey sandwich as leftovers fall on the floor rather than into my Tupperware containers, it’s my lateness that’s to blame. The shrink film, Tupperware and the universe are not plotting against me.
We all deal with a little devil telling us stories to keep us safe and in our place.
Wow. It seems that there are quite a few nefarious narrators in my head telling stories that are not supportive and it’s hard to shut them up. I’ve also come to realize that I’m not alone with this challenge.
We all deal with a little devil telling us things to keep us safe and in our place.
I’ve just decided, however, that I get to write the real stories that repeat in my mind as well as the “blurb” that’s on the dusk jacket of my life. And if I can’t silence the little voice in my head that is recounting untrue nonsense about me, then I’ll just pave over that little MOFO.
Watch me. I’ll do it.
What’s your strategy for silencing the voice in your head that’s telling you unsupportive stories?
Will you be renting some heavy paving equipment to metaphorically flatten this negative narrator?
