“Life stories do not simply reflect personality,” according to psychologist Dan McAdams of Northwestern University. By early adulthood we have developed narrative scripts that we follow, respond to and what controls our lives. We continue to update the narrative and refer to for guidance when we encounter challenges.
Therefore, if our stories tell us we are resilient, we will be. It they tell us we’re not up for the fight, we likely won’t be. An approach at improving our outlook, then, literally ask us to rewrite our stories. A growing body of research finds that, on paper or out loud, reviewing setbacks with the fresh eye of distance can help people come to terms with who they’ve been, better envision who they want to be and find better ways to correct it in the future.
Reframing helps people see events as opportunities or way points to improve their lives. We can’t not change our past and if we relive it will haunt you. Much like if we think about the future it will scare you so live it in the present. If we tweak our experiences and what it tells us. We can change how it affects us and who it makes us.
In our relationships, through our life choices, or at our jobs. We can recognize what is coming in the future and redirect that story from happening to us again. Therefore, “Rewriting Your Present No Matter Your Past.” The results are remarkable, can be even hard to believe. James Pennebaker of the University of Texas had assigned half the group to write about a traumatic experience and half to write about a neutral topic.
In total, those students that Journaled for only a hour spread out over a few days about their traumatic experiences had a better sense of well being then those that wrote about the neutral topic. Was it a fluke? No. The benefits of rewriting your wrongs, not only, improves your moods, but also, has been demonstrated in numerous studies can boost your immune system
Rewriting helps you organize your thoughts and feelings and helps to put them into words. This, in turn, helps you gain perspective, sort out your emotions, and increase your narrative coherence — your understanding of who you are, what you have learned through your life experiences. How you became the person you are and where you are going in your life
Avoid rewriting when you are in the middle of the crisis, step back, reflect what you have learned. Focus On post-traumatic growth – the fact is you can always learned something from bad experiences. Such as, increasing empathy for others, while realizing that others may have it worse off than you have it. Realizing also that you may have more inner strength than you thought, while also recognizing and identifying what your true priorities in Life really are… Namaste Brothers & Sister 🙂
Preview The Art and Science of Personality Development (with Dan McAdams)
The Art and Science of Personality Development (with Dan McAdams)
Preview Ride OF Your Life Interview with Dr. James Pennebaker
Ride OF Your Life Interview wth Dr. James Pennebaker