The Stories We Inherit — and the Ones We Choose

We are told stories throughout our lives, and some we carry in our bones.

We don’t always realize it, but long before we write our own narratives, we’re living inside someone else’s. These inherited stories come from the people who raised us, the cultures we belong to, the institutions that shaped us. They form the scripts we follow—often without question.

Photo by Meagan Martin

Maybe you inherited the story that says:

• “Nice girls don’t speak up.”

• “Hard work is worth more than rest.”

• “Keep the peace, even at your own expense.”

• “You must earn your worth.”

  
  

Sometimes, these stories were handed to us directly—spoken aloud, modeled by caretakers, reinforced by rituals or punishments. Other times, they were absorbed in subtler ways: through side glances, expectations, absences. Some of these stories helped our ancestors survive. Some protected us, even if imperfectly.

But some were born from pain, fear, trauma, or control—and we’re still living inside them, even when they no longer serve us.

Here’s the radical thing: We are not only heirs. We are authors.

Writing gives us the power to examine what we’ve inherited. It asks:

• Where did this story come from?

• Who benefits from me believing it?

• Does it reflect who I really am?

  
  

When we write, we can pause and notice the shape of the stories we’ve been given.

We can hold them up to the light.

We can say, This one doesn’t fit me anymore.

That is where empowerment begins—not always with loud rebellion, but with quiet recognition. With a pen in your hand and the courage to ask: What if I could write something new?

This week, we’re exploring that question.

What have you inherited?

And what will you choose?

Writing Prompts to Try:

1. Write about a belief or rule you inherited. Where do you think it came from? Who taught it to you—directly or indirectly?

2. Write about the moment you started to question it. What changed?

3. Write a new version. Begin with:

   
   

“The story I was given said… but the story I choose now is…”

Remember: you don’t have to hold on to stories that hurt.

You can honor where you came from and choose a new path forward. You get to decide what your next chapter holds.

Happy writing!