What Stories Are Keeping Me Stuck?

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Dear Liberators,

We all carry stories within us—about who we are, what we’re capable of, and how we should navigate the world. These stories are more than thoughts—they are the frameworks through which we experience life, shaping how we see ourselves, how we show up, and how we interact with others. Some stories uplift us, anchoring us to joy, resilience, and community. But others—often handed down through oppressive systems—keep us tethered to self-doubt, fear, and shame.

These narratives did not form in isolation. They are born from trauma, systemic oppression, and survival mechanisms designed to protect us at one point in time. For many of us, they came from generations of families navigating colonization, white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism. We have inherited stories that tell us we are not enough, that rest is laziness, that success means self-sacrifice, and that failure is unforgivable. These narratives are deeply embedded in the psyche of both the oppressed and the oppressor because they serve the continuation of supremacy culture.

I want to honor that naming these stories is not easy. There may be grief in uncovering the layers of how we have internalized harm. There may be guilt, confusion, or anger as we realize how much of our lives has been shaped by these limiting scripts. But there is also immense power in this process. Because once you name a story, you can begin to rewrite it.

Liberation begins with reclaiming the pen. When we become the authors of our narratives, we disrupt systems designed to silence us. This week, we will dive into the stories keeping us stuck and begin the tender yet powerful work of shifting them toward freedom and possibility.