Who Decided Your Future?

Who Decided Your Future?

Most of us grow up with a script we didn’t write.

Somewhere along the way, our future started being shaped by other people’s expectations, fears, and “shoulds.” Maybe it was a parent who said “That’s not practical.”

Perhaps it was a teacher who rolled their eyes when you shared your dream. It might have been a moment so small you barely remember it — but it stuck. In fact, that old moment is running the show. So who decided your future?

What’s tricky is that these old stories become part of us. We repeat them to ourselves without even realizing it.

“I’m not really creative.”
“I’ve never been good at relationships.”
“I can’t make decisions without messing things up.”

How does this happen?

The stories we tell ourselves get embedded in our systems and as a result, we become them.

However, as soon as we realize we want to decide our future and be in control of our life- we are on our way!

One of the most powerful exercises I’ve ever done is telling my life history story in the third person.

“The little girl didn’t like conflict, so she learned to be quiet.”
“He wanted to be a writer, but his dad pushed him into accounting.”
“She loved animals, but they said there’s no money in that.”

When we speak as the observer, we start to hear things we missed before.

Try this:

• Record yourself telling a few childhood memories as if you’re watching a movie.
• Or write it out like a short story.
• Then set it aside. Come back and read it later — slowly.

You might hear a belief you didn’t know you were still carrying.

“No one listened to me.”
“What I want doesn’t matter.”
“They had already decided my future.”

And now the real question arrives:

Who is deciding your future today?

It might still be that old voice — just dressed up as “reason” or “safety” or “being realistic.” But you’re not the same person anymore. You’re awake now. Aware.

You can choose something different.
You can challenge the story.
You can rewrite it — one sentence at a time.

Because your future isn’t fixed.
It’s yours.