24/10/2024
This got me thinking about Life Script.
Something I talk to clients about in therapy all the time. In fact, it’s hard to avoid, as it can be at the root of people’s emotional struggles, as well as being their route to healing.
So, what is a life script?
It is an unconscious life plan or pathway that is created in childhood, reinforced by parents (mostly) and strengthened with evidence sought throughout life, ensuring our beliefs are justified.
For example, a life script might include the belief that ‘I will never be good enough’ due to regular messages received as a child such as ‘why can’t you be more like your sister?’ or ‘you should have done better’. Throughout this persons life they are likely to seek and hold onto ‘evidence’ that ‘proves’ this belief is correct and dismiss/ignore everything to the contrary. Thus strengthening this core belief and life script.
As an adult, this person might experience low self-esteem, low self-worth, depression, perfectionism, people pleasing for validation, relationship issues and more.
This is, of course, a simplified example. However, using life script in counselling is a brilliant journey of self-discovery, and a great way to start re-writing the bits of your script that are harmful and no longer working for you.
