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MAKING SENSE
Refine your story: Now that you’ve taken the time to look both inward and outward, pause to make sense of your reflections. This is how you can be intentional about the way your reflections shape who you are.

Shaping
Self

Each day, we write a little bit more of our stories. As you reflect on what matters to you, ask what stories you want to keep developing over time. Here’s how you can revise your personal story to help you explore purpose.

Shaping
Self

Skill
Expression
Time
20 min
Materials
Pen + Paper
Post-It Notes
Bookmarked
Bookmark
STEPS
1

How do you describe yourself when you are talking about yourself? Take a few minutes to write down as many phrases that you use to describe yourself. These might range from qualities that describe you to your skills or challenges (see examples below).

For Example

1. I’m not that creative
2. I’m good at math
3. I can be silly
4. I’m antisocial
5. I’m not fashionable
6. I’m pretty open minded
7. I hate public speaking
8. I’m really goofy
9. I’m a good friend
10. I’m a terrible cook
2

Story Starters
When you think about it, each of these statements is a story that you tell about yourself to the world. You have the power to keep telling the stories that align most with how you want to see yourself. Select one phrase that you feel are positive, and you want to keep developing and expressing.



STORY STARTERS
SELECTION TIPS

  • Make you feel good about yourself
  • Are statements you want to keep developing
  • Express who you feel you are now

REFLECT

A story I want to continue..

PAST
Where did this story come from?

PRESENT
How does this story contribute to my happiness

FUTURE
How will I continue developing this story?



STORY STARTERS TIPS

  • Make you feel good about yourself
  • Are statements you want to keep developing
  • Express who you feel you are now
3

Story Stoppers
Sometimes the stories we tell ourselves are not very helpful, detract from our confidence, or make us feel like we can’t do something. The good news is that you can always change the stories you tell yourself. Pick three phrases that you might like to stop telling yourself and take this opportunity to change them. For example, if you said “I am not creative,” you could reframe your story to: “I can be creative if I choose to be.”  Use the tips below to break down one story that is no longer aligned with who you want to be.

A story I want to stop..

PAST
Where did this story come from?

PRESENT
How does this story contribute to my happiness

FUTURE
How will I continue developing this story?



my story reframe TIPS

  • Detracts from your confidence
  • Are statements you want to keep developing
  • Express who you feel you are now
4

Even small changes to the stories you tell yourself can help build your confidence, but it takes practice to reframe how you see yourself. Grab a notebook, and one page, write a positive story that you want to keep telling yourself (from Step 2). On another page, write your reframed or changed story (from Step 3). As you explore purpose in your life, check in on these stories throughout the rest of the process and use them to help inform the next steps you choose to pursue.

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Take a look at our habits below!
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HABITS

Make edits to your story

Sometimes the way we describe ourselves or the stories we tell about ourselves can be self deprecating or not representative of who we want to be anymore. You can make changes to your story by simply changing the words you use to describe yourself. Notice as the people around you follow your lead.

Try on different hats

Our personalities can evolve and grow as we take on new qualities and identities. Lean in to different aspects of your identity, or even take on a new one! For example, maybe you have always wanted to be more outdoorsy or more artsy – how might you take actions that show these sides of yourself?

Craft your intro

Meeting new people is the perfect chance to play around with new ways of introducing yourself. Pretend you’re going to meet someone new — what will you mention first? What stories will you share about yourself? Plan a quick introduction and try it out. Notice how it feels to you and where it takes the conversation.