This shouldn’t be a newsflash, but it needs to be said: You are completely free to edit your personal backstory.
Each of us has a backstory.
A personal backstory is what we say about ourselves (along with our behaviors, physical cues, and beliefs that may speak louder than our words) about how we reached where we are right now. A backstory provides others an important input toward beginning to form perceptions about you.
Ideally, your backstory provides a strong representation of your path to where you are and helps people quickly understand where you can benefit them (and where they might be able to benefit you).
In a less than ideal situation, your personal backstory can limit you in who you start believing you are, what you can imagine yourself doing, and even the people you associate with personally and professionally.
Your Personal Backstory Can Change
That brings us back to the starting point: there is nothing to stop you if you want to edit your personal backstory to serve you better than it does right now.
I was chatting with a friend that has lost touch with some of her talents and very positive characteristics. She hasn't used certain talents as fully as she did in the years leading up to her current job. These talents have essentially disappeared from how she thinks and talks about herself with others.
We discussed the benefit from editing her backstory to open up possibilities or make her diverse experiences work hard to boldly communicate in professional settings.
What's your personal backstory?
Is it helping or hurting you?
While you may have some sense of how others perceive your backstory, it's worthwhile to ask them. Talk to people around you (both very and less familiar with you) that can help you better understand how your backstory plays for them.
If the personal backstory others perceive isn't serving you well, edit and revise it to serve you better.
No one is going to stop you. It's yours to decide. - Mike Brown
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the free Brainzooming blog email updates.
