What If the Problem Isn’t Stress, But the Story You Tell About It?
There’s a moment just before something big - a presentation, an interview, an opportunity that stretches you - where your body reacts before your mind does.
Your heart beats faster. Your breath shortens. Your stomach tightens.
Some people call this anxiety. Others call it excitement.
Same sensations. Different story.
The Power of the Story We Tell
Everything we experience is filtered through a story.
We like to believe we see the world as it is, but really, we see it as we’ve been taught to see it, through past experiences, cultural conditioning, and the automatic narratives we’ve absorbed over time.
Your perception isn’t just about what happens; it’s about the meaning you assign to it.
When things feel overwhelming, it’s not the experience that overwhelm us, it’s the story we attach to those experiences.
"I can’t handle this" → leads to shutdown
"This is big, but I’ve handled bigger" → leads to action
"This always happens to me" → leads to helplessness
"Okay, this is happening, so what now?" → leads to problem-solving
Most of these stories run on autopilot, ingrained scripts that play in the background, shaping how we feel and react before we even realise it.
But here’s the thing: just because a story is familiar doesn’t mean it’s true.
Rewriting the Narrative
The moment you notice the story, you reclaim the choice.
Stress isn’t just about the situation itself, it’s about the story running in the background. Most of us default to thoughts like:
“I don’t have time for this.”
“I should have this figured out by now.”
“I should know how to do this”
But what if, instead of those stories, we told ourselves something different?
Instead of “I don’t have time for this” → “I can make time for what matters most.”
Instead of “I should have this figured out by now” → “If it were easy, it wouldn’t be on my plate.”
Instead of “I should know how to do this” → “I’ll figure it out as I go, just like I always do.”
The pressure doesn’t disappear. But its impact changes.
This isn’t about blind optimism. It’s about choosing a story that helps you move forward, rather than one that holds you back.
Your Challenge This Week
The real skill here isn’t workload management, it’s narrative management.
The people who navigate stress most effectively aren’t the ones who avoid it. They’re the ones who frame it in a way that fuels them rather than drains them.
Stress will always exist, but the story you tell about it? That’s in your hands.
The next time stress kicks in, catch yourself and ask:
1️⃣ What’s the automatic narrative?
2️⃣ Does it empower or limit you?
3️⃣ Now, rewrite it. What’s a new story that puts you back in control?
4️⃣ Notice how your body and mindset shift when you reframe the meaning.
Because when you own your story, you own your response.
The way you or your team handle stress isn’t just about workload management, it’s about narrative management. If it’s time for a better approach, let’s talk.
