Unmasking Old Stories 🎭
"The unexamined life is not worth living." — Socrates
"Write down five beliefs you hold about yourself, others, or the world. Reflect on where these beliefs might have come from and if they still serve you."
Not long ago, I stumbled across an old journal.
Flipping through faded pages, I found beliefs I'd written in bold ink. Sentences like, "People can't be trusted," and "Success is for someone else."
My stomach twisted as I read them.
Beliefs like these don't spring up overnight. They creep in quietly through childhood experiences, back handed comments, or painful moments. Like invisible fingerprints, they shape the decisions we make, often without us noticing.
Think of Ebenezer Scrooge, that familiar Dickens character.
Cold, bitter, and isolated.
His harsh beliefs about people, wealth, and happiness weren’t accidental. They were born of past wounds, calcified over years. Only when forced to look deeper, to question his assumptions, could he rewrite a kinder, wiser narrative.
Your beliefs have origins, too.
It’s worth finding out where they come from.
And if they're helping or hindering who you truly want to become.
Grab a notebook or your favorite note-taking app. List out five core beliefs about yourself, other people, or life in general. Don’t overthink it.
Then pause. Take one minute to trace their roots. Ask yourself:
Where did this belief originate?
Does this still reflect who I am, or who I want to be?
Mark beliefs that no longer align.
Then, boldly, rewrite them. Give yourself permission to start fresh.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." — Socrates
A life well-lived is one where you frequently challenge your assumptions, making room for growth and truth.
What belief have you recently questioned, revised, or discarded entirely?
Maybe you're wrestling with it now. That's okay, too.
Tell your story in the comments.
You might spark someone else's journey toward clarity.
Beliefs are powerful, sometimes dangerously so.
They guide your actions. Shape your worldview. Form your identity.
But they're not permanent. You can change them.
Challenge your thoughts. Ask difficult questions.
Embrace discomfort if necessary. Truth often waits on the other side.
Keep reflecting, keep rewriting. You're not alone.
Warmly,
— Ryan Puusaari
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For the longest time I believed I wasn’t good enough. Now I know I am and always have been.