22/07/2025
⭐️ The power of the story we tell ourselves – a personal insight ⭐️
I don’t usually share personal things, but I felt this might help someone.
If you’ve known me a while, you’ll know I’ve always struggled with back pain – and running was something I avoided completely. After being told in my early 20s I had “degenerative disc disease”, I believed running would only make things worse.
But over time, I’ve learnt how much our thoughts – and the words we use – shape our reality.
This year, I decided to change the story:
“I can run.” 🏃♀️ I started the ‘Couch to 5K’ in February 2025 and just completed my final 30-minute run! 🙌
It wasn’t easy. In the beginning, I could feel every jolt in my back. But I reminded myself: running is natural and nothing is seriously “broken”.
Everyone’s discs wear with age – but being told you have a degenerative disease in your 20s, feels like something is seriously wrong, and that belief shaped my behaviour. I avoided certain movements, and my back would often spasm – not from injury, but from a fear-driven feedback loop trying to protect me.
The old story had me stuck in a cycle – fear, spasms, stress, more pain. Now, when my back twinges, I try to breathe, relax, and carry on. Most of the time, it eases.
Of course, sometimes pain has a physical cause, and I listen to that. But often, the brain just gets confused. It tries to protect us, even when there’s no real danger.
What story are you telling yourself?
Words can be damaging – but the right story, told to yourself, can be transformative.
