Episode 13: Breaking Free - Unraveling The Grip Of Old Stories

Pam Hamilton [00:00:00]:
You're listening to Becoming Seen, The Art and Science of Creating Authentic Visibility. Episode 3rd Breaking Free, Unraveling the Grip of Old Stories with your host, Pam Hamilton.

Joan Hamilton [00:00:18]:
Welcome to another episode of Becoming Seen, the podcast where you explore the art and science Science of creating authentic visibility so you can find the courage to be seen, heard, valued, and create a life you love With your host, mindset and visibility expert, Pam Hamilton.

Pam Hamilton [00:00:42]:
Oh, hello there, and welcome back to another episode of Becoming Seen, the art and science of creating authentic visibility. I'm your host, Pam Hamilton. And today, we're diving into a topic that affects us all. The stories we tell ourselves, especially those stories that keep us stuck? Why is it so hard to let go of old narratives that no longer serve us? Let's talk about it. Stories shape our lives. From childhood tales to the stories we tell ourselves as adults, they become the lens through which we perceive the world and our place in the world. But what happens when those stories become an anchor holding us down instead of a source of empowerment? Hey. First off, Let me acknowledge something.

Pam Hamilton [00:01:32]:
I see you. Yes. You. The incredible woman listening to this podcast right now, I get it. Life throws curveballs, And sometimes, it feels like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Maybe you're thinking, Pam, Easier said than done. And I hear you. It's like you're trapped in a room with walls made of the Stories you've been telling yourself.

Pam Hamilton [00:02:02]:
For example, like, just bear with me and picture this. You're working late again, And you're feeling like you're in a hamster wheel going nowhere. Right? Passed up for another promotion you know you deserved or wondering why you didn't land that client that you know you could help. And in the quiet moments, you can't help but think, Is this it? Is this my story? That frustration, that feeling of being stuck is more common than you might think. But here's the thing. It doesn't have to be your forever story. Now I I don't wanna sugarcoat stuff. Okay? We're not doing that because we're diving into the nitty gritty.

Pam Hamilton [00:02:52]:
No hoes barred here. Right? What is it that keeps you chained to those outdated tales? Dragging them like a a ball and chain. Let's talk about it because, my friend, it's time for a story makeover. But Before we kick off, I wanna make you a promise. By the end of this episode, you'll have a roadmap to identify and ditch those stories that are cramping your style. You ready? Great. Come on. Let's get started.

Pam Hamilton [00:03:26]:
Let's talk about the grip of old stories. Boys. K? Ever feel like you're in a tug of war between who you are and who you think you should be? It's a tale as old as time. Right? We lecture out the stories because they're familiar, like a well worn blanket. But here's the rub. That cozy blanket could be suffocating your true self. Now, I get it. Might Be thinking, but, Pam, these stories define me.

Pam Hamilton [00:03:58]:
They're a part of who I am. But hold up. Okay? Hold up. It's okay to feel that way because we're creatures of habit. And change can be as unsettling as a surprise pop A quiz. You know? Remember those back in the day? But guess what? Change is where the magic happens. So let's play a game for a minute. What if those old stories, right, were like a pair of shoes that no longer fit.

Pam Hamilton [00:04:33]:
You wouldn't keep wearing them. Right? Well, the same goes for your stories. What if, just what if, you could let go of the narratives that no longer serve you? What kind of space would that open up in your life? The problem is it's not always easy to recognize the stories that are holding us back Because our brains are literally wired to respond to stories. And change, right, trying to change it is often met with resistance, especially when it comes to letting go of a familiar story, an old familiar tale. And the uncomfortable truth is that holding on to old stories can feel like clinging to a sinking ship. And yet it could be so scary to let go. Even when the lifeboat is just a step or two away. It's just scary.

Pam Hamilton [00:05:29]:
But we're laying the groundwork I know it's hitting home. The stories we carry can be a heavy burden. But I promise you, there's a way out. And it's time to loosen the grip and embrace the freedom of creating your own narrative. The one where you get to live the life you want. The life you dreamed of for yourself. So how do we start? Well, here are a few quick tips to help you begin the process of identifying and letting go of stories that no longer serve you. And the first one might not surprise you is just self reflection.

Pam Hamilton [00:06:13]:
Take a moment to reflect on the stories you tell yourself. Are they empowering? Or are they limiting? Journaling can help as a powerful tool in this process. But, really, just ask yourself, is this Story. This thought, this thing I'm telling myself, is it empowering or is it holding me back? And if it's holding you back, challenge the assumptions that it's making. Right? Question those assumptions that are underlying your stories. Because are they based on facts or just old beliefs? Questioning can be the 1st step to unraveling the grip on those stories. If you're saying, I can't do math. I can't do math.

Pam Hamilton [00:07:02]:
I can't do math. It's just too hard because the story is, especially back in our day, girls didn't do math. Girls wasn't smart enough To do math, girls were supposed to be home taking care they, you know, their husbands and wives are training to be able to be home and taking care of their husbands and their kids. And I'm saying wives, and we definitely were not supposed to do that. We weren't supposed to have those. We were supposed to have husbands and kids, and we were supposed to take care of them. And math wasn't part of our equation. But maybe you're good at math.

Pam Hamilton [00:07:40]:
Maybe that story is a lie. Maybe when you go to the grocery store and you change out the Money. And you pay for your stuff. You can calculate the change you're supposed to get in your head. You can calculate all of the prices of all the items as you're heading up to the cash register and know what it's gonna cost, because you could do some math. And maybe that story is a lie. Start by questioning the story. And then surround yourself with positive influences.

Pam Hamilton [00:08:11]:
And that doesn't mean you gotta always be upbeat, da da da da da. But surround yourself with people that believe in you, that support you, and that support you in changing the narrative that you're living in to one that you choose, that's positive. And changing your environment like that, changing the people you're with can create the Space for those new narratives to emerge a lot easier. And then visualize your future. Envision the life you want Without the weight of old stories. Because visualization is a powerful tool to manifest change. And it lets you get clarity on exactly what it is you do want. And that's it.

Pam Hamilton [00:09:02]:
You have it. Alright? We've journeyed through the tangled web of old stories, and now it's your turn to take the reins. Remember, becoming seen Start with letting go of the old stories that no longer serve you and kept you invisible. It's a process. It's a journey. But you're not alone. And if you're looking for help on the journey, I'd like to invite you to Schedule a vision and clarity call with me. The link will be in the show notes.

Pam Hamilton [00:09:36]:
And let's look at your stories and how we can Start to change the narrative. If you found value in today's episode, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Until next time, this is Pam Hamilton signing out from Becoming Seen. You got this.

Joan Hamilton [00:09:55]:
Thank you for listening to my podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, Please rate and review it on iTunes. The link is in the show notes. Your reviews help us grow.