"Feelings Versus Stories: A Reflection"

There are feelings we have, and there are stories we tell. It is hard to tell the difference, and sometimes we confuse the two. For example, someone may say, I feel like punching someone. Punching someone is a story, a behavior, and if you act on it, you may not get the outcome you desire. Expressing a feeling is different. In this case, it’s better to say, I am angry. Now, people may seek to listen, comfort, and offer to help. Feelings we acknowledge, stories we tell. My feelings come and go, but stories are a choice. At times, I don’t believe this. I hold onto stories that aren’t beneficial and claim they are feelings. The truth is they aren’t. There are stories that I have told myself for a long time. It is time to begin to tell new ones. What stories are you telling that you need to let go of and retell?