Did you know that your story is what truly sets you apart as a human?
The Power of Storytelling in Human Evolution
Let’s briefly explore what truly defines us as Homo sapiens. Contrary to popular belief, Homo sapiens’ defining trait isn’t just intelligence or social skills but the unique ability to tell stories and convey complex concepts. This is our universal law. Everything we perceive as reality is filtered through a conceptual lens. That lens gives meaning to our world, but in the grand scheme of the universe, our stories mean nothing. Does the sun care about our libertarian values?
After reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari, I realized that this perspective permanently changed how I see the world.
This storytelling ability gave us a unique power to coordinate with others and pursue our goals, enabling us to thrive in what we perceive as a wild world. We outcompeted Neanderthals, despite their larger brains and superior physical traits, because they couldn’t mobilize others through shared narratives the way we could.
So, we are storytellers. This is how we explain what we see, observe, and experience in the world and universe. When we can’t explain, we fabricate stories. But what happens when these stories mislead us?
Identity: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
There is a powerful demonstration of how difficult it is to answer the question: “Who are you?” Typically, you’ll start with your name, then your job or occupation, followed by a set of limited specifications. But none of these labels actually describe who you are—they’re either inherited or perceived.
You are the sum of the stories you tell yourself—some evolve over time, while others remain fixed. You were born in a certain city, at a certain time, and these are facts upon which you built a narrative. For example, you may say, “As a Texan, I behave in a certain way,” whether or not your behavior actually aligns with this narrative.
Regardless of the stories you tell yourself, whether you believe them or not, the earth keeps rotating. There is nothing absolute about these choices; part of them are inherited, and part of them are constructed.
We all have gaps in our attempt to make sense of reality, often referred to as cognitive dissonance. It’s perfectly normal, and there’s not much we can do about it.
One of the surest ways to create cognitive dissonance is by harshly criticizing others. When you criticize, you build a prison of judgment that you might later find yourself trapped in. Life has a way of surprising us, and you may end up behaving exactly as you once criticized. The more critical you are, the more dissonance you create.
Back to you. You are the sum of stories you are telling yourself. These stories carry a force, a driving energy that shapes your actions. If your actions or direction aren’t serving you in the larger scheme of life, then it’s time to rewrite the stories leading you there. You can do this on your own, or you can seek external guidance to help you reshape your narrative.
The Power in Rewriting Narrative
The narrative power isn’t a new invention. You can be who ever you want to be should you choose your story in full.
With the rise of digital devices, we aren’t the master of our content any longer which lead to stories inheritance more than story we are shaping.
A known practice is therefore to reverse engineer it by visualizing who you want to become or the specific goals you want to achieve. The more you’ll think of it, you’ll start to think about it and find ways to achieve your goals.
The Therapist’s Role in Rewriting Narratives
I won’t address the academic definition of psychotherapy here, but instead, offer a more unconventional take on its value and purpose.
From my experience, I consulted a therapist twice. The second time was after selling my business. I felt directionless and engaged in deep self-reflection. One day, I realized I was hitting a value framework that felt too deep to question without guidance. I deliberately chose to seek external help.
The purpose was to help me rewrite certain narratives—those that were leading to persistent questions or those that no longer aligned with my evolving sense of self.
When is it too late to see a therapist?
It is never too late to seek help, and in fact, the later you seek it, the more important it may become. If you attempt to question long-standing storylines that shaped your past behavior, and those stories collide with a newly rewritten self, you may find yourself in a dangerous loop. This is when external guidance becomes invaluable. You aren’t a nut case.
By rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, we unlock new opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Therapy offers a way to guide us through this process, helping us let go of outdated narratives and embrace new, more beneficial ones.
You have a unique power to alter your stories and fabricate your reality with or without help.
