Why Do I Keep Carrying Stories That Don’t Belong to Me? | Emptying Your Pockets

Sometimes the heaviest burdens we carry aren’t ours at all. They’re the stories, labels, and quiet messages we’ve picked up from other people — and over time, they’ve become part of how we see ourselves.

This week’s One Question explores why we hold on to these inherited narratives, how they shape our identity, and what it takes to finally set them down. Through a childhood memory of walking with my dad, pockets full of rocks, we’ll talk about the science of how identity stories form, why we keep believing them even when they’re untrue, and the small but powerful ways we can release them.

If you’ve been feeling weighed down, this might be your invitation to empty your pockets.