What stories are you telling yourself?

We all tell stories — not just around the dinner table, but quietly, all day long. These stories shape how we see ourselves, how we show up, and what we believe we’re capable of. Some of them lift us up. Others quietly limit us.

As we move through different stages of life, it’s common to start noticing these stories more. We begin to question things we took for granted — beliefs we inherited from family, teachers, culture, or workplaces.

And sometimes we realise:

• those beliefs don’t actually align with our own values

• we’ve outgrown them

• or they were never really ours to begin with.

  
  

That’s where Narrative Coaching comes in. Narrative Coaching is about exploring and reshaping the stories that shape you. It helps you bring these internal narratives into the open — to see them, understand them, and decide whether to keep, adapt, or rewrite them.

When we externalise a story — take it out of our heads and look at it from different angles — something powerful happens. We start to realise the story is not us. It’s just one version of meaning we’ve created to navigate the world.

And when you can see it that way, you have a choice.

Why Narrative Coaching Works

At its core, Narrative Coaching works because stories are how humans make meaning. From early childhood, we learn about ourselves and the world through narrative. Our internal stories help us interpret experiences and predict what might happen next.

But — these stories aren’t always accurate. They’re filtered through upbringing, social norms, and past experiences. Narrative Coaching creates the space to see these stories consciously, rather than letting them operate unnoticed in the background.

When we become aware of these internal narratives — “I’m not creative,” “people like me never get promoted,” “I have to be perfect to be accepted” — we can begin to question their accuracy and usefulness.

The Power of Externalising the Story

Much of Narrative Coaching’s effectiveness lies in externalisation — taking an internal belief or self-story and bringing it into the open. When a story is named and spoken aloud, it becomes separate from the self.

This is a transformative shift. Instead of being the story (“I’m bad at managing conflict”), you can examine the story (“I sometimes believe I’m bad at managing conflict — where did that come from?”). This allows emotional distance, increased self-reflection, and often a surprising sense of relief.

How Narrative Coaching Works in Practice

A narrative coaching conversation might:

• Invite reflection on the stories you tell most often — about work, relationships, success, or worth.

• Explore where the story originated and when it tends to appear.

• Identify evidence that supports and contradicts the story.

• Re-author the story into one that feels more empowering or relevant to your present and future.

This process develops self-awareness and agency — both key outcomes in coaching. Over time, new ways of seeing yourself begin to shape new patterns of behaviour and ultimately, new outcomes.

The Subtle but Profound Shift

Narrative Coaching doesn’t force new beliefs. It invites curiosity — a safe space to test and evolve your stories through insight, not pressure. That subtle shift — from “this is who I am” to “this is a story I’ve been telling” — opens up new possibilities for growth and action.

Narrative Coaching works because stories run subconsciously in the background — until we choose to shape them intentionally. When we change our stories, we change what we believe is possible. Curious to know more?

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