Narrative Renaissance: Recreating Your Story

🎒 Materials & Moments

What you’ll need
Paper, coloured pens, pencils, markers, or any other visual tools that resonate with you.
A serene and cosy space, and perhaps some uplifting tunes to spark your creativity.

Instructions

Prepare Your Space
Choose a calm and comfortable location where you can spread out your drawing materials.

You might wish to play some inspirational music to stimulate creativity.

Reflect on Your Beliefs
Think about the beliefs that have influenced your life, particularly those that have been proven untrue or misguided.

These might be beliefs about yourself, others, or the world around you.

Start with a Timeline
Draw a timeline of your life, marking significant events, achievements, perceived failures, and turning points.

Note down beside each event any beliefs that were related to that part of your story.

Highlight the Untrue Beliefs
Using a different colour or symbol, highlight the events or parts of your life where beliefs were not true.

These might be moments where you realised you were capable of something you previously thought impossible, or times when your perception of someone or something was proven wrong.

Examples:

Self-Doubt at University

Belief: “I thought I wasn’t smart enough to pursue higher education because I struggled in high school.”

Reality: “I not only graduated from university but also excelled in my major, discovering that my earlier struggles were more about the learning environment and less about my capabilities.”

Misjudging a Colleague

Belief: “I believed that the quiet colleague in my team lacked confidence or ideas because they didn’t speak up often.”

Reality: “When we partnered on a project, I found out they had a wealth of knowledge and creative solutions. They just preferred to share in smaller settings.”

Belief About Love

Belief: “After a heartbreaking relationship, I believed I wasn’t deserving of love or that I’d never find a loving partner.”

Reality: “I later met someone who showed me genuine love and care, making me realise that one past relationship didn’t define my worth or future relationships.”

Pursuing Passion

Belief: “I thought turning my passion for art into a career would make me hate it.”

Reality: “When I took the leap, not only did I not lose my love for art, but I also felt more fulfilled and happier than in any other job.”

Parental Expectations

Belief: “Growing up, I believed I had to become a doctor because it’s what my parents expected and desired.”

Reality: “I pursued a different career path that I was passionate about and not only found success but also eventually received my parents’ support and understanding.”

Fear of Change

Belief: “I thought that moving to a new city would be too overwhelming and that I’d never adapt or find friends.”

Reality: “After relocating, I quickly made connections, embraced the new environment, and found that the change brought about some of the best experiences of my life.”

Limitations Due to Age

Belief: “When I reached my 40s, I believed it was too late to start a new hobby or skill.”

Reality: “I took up a musical instrument and found not only did I pick it up quickly but it brought immense joy and new friends into my life.”

Re-Create Your Story
With these highlights in mind, begin to visually re-create your story, illustrating how your life might have unfolded without those untrue beliefs.

Use symbols, drawings, or abstract forms that resonate with you. There’s no right or wrong here; this is your story.

Reflect on the Process
Once you’ve finished, take some time to reflect on this new visual representation of your life.

How does it feel to recognise and shed those untrue beliefs?

What insights have you gained?

Consider Future Actions
Based on this visual re-creation, think about any steps you might take to continue challenging unhelpful beliefs and embracing a more truthful and empowering perspective.