What does this mean to you?
Uncover the interpretations shaping how you feel and act.
When an event stirs up feelings that stop you from doing something important, pause and ask:
🤔 What does this mean to me?
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” — William Shakespeare
Events don’t shape our feelings directly. What matters is the meaning we give them. That meaning often comes from limiting beliefs we carry, like thinking we’re not good enough, unlovable, or that we don’t belong. These beliefs often begin early, shaped in part by our minds’ natural tendency to focus more on what feels negative or threatening. Once in place, these beliefs lead us to notice and interpret things in ways that confirm them. For example, a breakup or rejection can feel like proof that we will never find someone who loves us. Overlooking an important detail may seem like confirmation that we are not good enough. And feeling lonely at social gatherings can strengthen the sense that we don’t belong or fit in.
Our interpretations shape how we feel and act. It’s the meaning, the story we tell ourselves, that triggers feelings like sadness, anxiety, or anger. These feelings then guide our behavior. For example, seeing a breakup as proof we’ll never find love can lead us to close ourselves off from new relationships. Interpreting an overlooked detail as a sign we’re not good enough might make us avoid challenges. And feeling lonely at social gatherings can push us to pull away from others, reinforcing the sense that we don’t belong. Over time, these patterns become self-fulfilling prophecies, keeping us stuck and making it harder to live the life we want.
How we interpret events is like looking through tinted lenses that shape what we see, making things appear brighter or darker than they really are.
When something triggers strong negative feelings, think about what it means to you. Becoming aware of the beliefs behind those feelings helps you see the connection between what happens around you, how you interpret it, the feelings it brings up, and how you act. This awareness matters, especially when the same emotional patterns keep showing up and quietly shape how you live, sometimes pulling you away from your personal values and the person you want to be.
That connection between belief, feeling, and behavior is always there, even if it’s hard to spot. A good place to start is simply asking:
🤔 What does this mean to me?
From there, explore more helpful ways of seeing your experience.
