The Little Known Psychological Behaviour That Creates Drama In Your Life

Alright, you’ve seen the two-in-one lady picture, right? You’ve found yourself flipping between seeing the old lady and the young woman. Crazy stuff! It’s all about our brain playing the pattern game – and we LOVE it, it’s like our brain’s candy!

Patterns are our brain's way of making sense of this wild, unpredictable world around us. It’s our mind pulling the strings, turning the chaos into order.

We used to need it big time – imagine spotting a lion or an intruder, it was pattern recognition that would have us ready to fight or flee!

But here’s the thing – This same knack for patterns?

It can seriously mess with our heads, causing conflicts, and judgments, and yes, we end up crafting some pretty wild stories in our minds.

If you’re thinking “Me, making up stories? Nah…”

If you’re sitting there thinking, “Me? Creating stories? No way…”

…Unless you're some evolved human transcending our ancient brain functionalities, you're spinning tales. (lol).

Ever text your friends or maybe a girl, get no reply... then run into them, with your mind already having scripted a drama series?

See it’s our brains filling in the gaps, trying to take control of the unknown.

Crazy because even though our brains are super frickin’ advanced, processing about 200 million bits of information per second but equally can be super frickin’ dumb.

So, how do we tackle this? We can’t stop our minds from creating narratives...

But we can challenge and reshape those stories.

This is where the idea called the ‘Stormy First Draft’ comes in.

Brene Browne, a renowned research professor, author, and TED Talk sensation, is a trusted expert in exploring the depths of human emotion…

… tells us our brain is always scripting, it may not be accurate, but it’s always active.

We feel emotions tied to these narratives and act on them.

At the core, you pull pieces and shape your experiences around them.

Basically, you act out on something that’s not 100% true (in fact it’s more than like 100% false), which typically leads to further disappointment down the road.

When strong stories arise from impactful happenings, emotions steer the story's events. Getting curious and dissecting these made-up stories increases our resilience to setbacks and disappointments.

The initial story is the stormy first draft – your brain's attempt to make sense of things.

We shape our entire experience around this narrative.

What's the most positive assumption I can make about this event or person?

This approach? It’s a lifesaver. It halts the overthinking and helps me move on faster. It's about interrogating that first narrative that pops up.

You acknowledge the created narrative and then re-author it. For instance, when someone doesn’t reply, instead of thinking, “That jerk ignored me!”, you halt and scrutinize that immediate response.

And get this…

We’re talking about more than just ignored texts or untouched emails. It’s about every subtle gesture, every seemingly insignificant interaction that our minds seize to weave narratives.

Whether it's work, interactions with team members, relationships, or just life.

So here’s a Quick Drill - Owning Your Narrative:

1. Spot the Tale: Recognize when your mind starts concocting a tale. Tune into the initial thoughts surfacing.

2. Challenge the Tale: Don’t just accept your brain’s version! Dig deep, dissect each part of the story, and figure out the real deal.

3. Rewrite the Script: Once you’ve uncovered the truths, redraw the narrative. Recreate the picture with newfound insights.

Remember, it’s about mastering the story, not suppressing it. It’s about reclaiming the brush and revealing the real, multifaceted reality beneath with intentional strokes.

We all seek clarity, the brain will always put two and two together (even its not 100% true)

Hopefully, today has brought you clarity and insight into the stories you tell yourself.

If you’re looking to find out more about the stories you tell yourself and how they’re stopping you from getting the things you want in life then let’s have a conversation

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Take Care,

Paul Hennessy