I just returned home after being away for a few weeks, recharging my batteries after a long stretch of stress—between work, artistic projects, and surgery. It was the first time in a while that I had actual space to breathe, to think, and to just observe.

One morning over breakfast, I found myself reflecting on life. I looked around the dining space and noticed the couples sitting nearby—sharing conversation, sipping coffee, and easing into their morning. And then a quiet thought came: I’m alone.

Now, let me be clear—aloneness in and of itself doesn’t bother me much anymore. I’ve learned how to enjoy my own company, how to savor the stillness. But what caught me off guard was where my mind went next: I’m broken.

And wow—that one stung.

In that moment, I was reminded of the lyrics from Levi Kreis’s song Liberated: “All of us are broken. Did you think that I would leave? That I would turn and walk away?”

Because yeah, all of us are broken in some way. But broken isn’t the whole story.

I started thinking about everything I’ve been through over 58 years—being widowed twice, raising kids, navigating aging parents, riding the highs and lows of multiple careers, dealing with health challenges. I carry a lot. Most of us do. But in that vulnerable moment, surrounded by what looked like picture-perfect couples, all I could see was what I lacked.

And I had to stop myself from spiraling.

I had to shift the narrative.

I reminded myself:

• I’m not broken. I’m strong.
• I don’t have baggage. I have experience.
• I’m not damaged goods. I am seasoned. Fortified. Whole.

It didn’t feel natural at first—it rarely does. But here’s the thing:

We control our narrative.

We define our belief systems. And when those beliefs no longer serve us, we have the power to rewrite them. I chose, in that moment, to reject the lie that I was broken. I chose to declare something truer, something more compassionate.

Sounds simple, right?

Well… yes and no. The concept is simple: choose to believe something different. But putting that into practice? That’s where the work comes in. You have to train yourself to believe the new story. You have to rehearse it until it takes root.

Negative self-beliefs often stick more easily because they’re familiar. This is known as negativity bias—our brains are wired to hold onto negative information more readily than positive. So when we’ve been told (or told ourselves) something limiting over and over, it becomes our default narrative.

And that’s why it takes conscious effort to rewrite it.

I had a long conversation with my mom about this. She’s 86 years old, and she still carries beliefs from her childhood—things instilled in her by her own parents. Things she never questioned because they were just “truth” to her. But as we talked, I reminded her of something: she has a 100% success rate at getting through every hard thing life has thrown at her.

(Yes, I even reminded her of the blog I wrote about that very idea. If you missed it, it’s right here.)

I challenged her—gently, of course—to take a second look at those long-held beliefs. To ask, “Is this really true? Is this helping me?”

Because we don’t outgrow the need to challenge our inner script. No matter how old we are, we can still question the things we tell ourselves.

So I’ll ask you the same thing: What story are you telling yourself right now?

Are you telling yourself you’re broken? Too old? Too late? Not enough?

Or are you willing to pause and challenge that?

Maybe you’re not broken. Maybe you’re battle-tested. Maybe you’re not late. Maybe you’re right on time. Maybe you’re not carrying baggage. Maybe you’re carrying wisdom.

Here’s how you start rewriting the story:

1. Name the lie. Identify the belief that’s holding you back. Say it out loud.
2. Replace it with truth. Choose a kinder, truer narrative. It doesn’t have to be sunshine and rainbows—just honest and empowering.
3. Repeat it often. Every time the old belief creeps in, speak the new one. Write it down. Say it out loud. Put it where you’ll see it.
4. Notice what changes. Over time, your internal world shifts. You stop reacting from fear or shame and start responding with self-compassion.

It’s not magic. But it is transformative.

Because when we change the story we tell ourselves, we change the way we move through the world.

So here’s my challenge to you this week:

What’s one belief you’re ready to rewrite?