Podcasts · Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
Our Mind Tells Us Stories
· 21 min · Episode 1599
Episode Our Mind Tells Us Stories
You felt confident. Radiant. Unstoppable.
Then nothing changed… except your thoughts - and suddenly, everything looked wrong.
In this powerful episode, a simple set of family photos reveals a confronting truth: your mind is constantly telling stories - and many of them aren’t real.
What if the way you see your child, your partner… even yourself… isn’t truth, but a narrative you’ve unknowingly rehearsed?
This episode will change how you interpret behaviour, emotions, and the hard moments of family life - so you can raise more resilient kids (and be kinder to yourself in the process).
KEY POINTS
• Your brain can’t distinguish between imagination and reality - and your body reacts accordingly • We all have a built-in negativity bias that distorts how we see people and situations • You move towards what you focus on - in parenting, relationships, and life • A simple language shift using “but” can completely reframe your thinking • Kids absorb the stories we model - your mindset becomes their inner voice • Negative thoughts are loud and bossy - positive ones are quieter and require intention
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“Your mind is a great storyteller—let’s make sure it’s telling you great stories.”
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
• Catch the story: Notice when your thoughts shift negative - pause and question them • Flip the “but”:
• “They’re driving me crazy, but they’re a good kid”
• Redirect your focus: Ask: What’s working right now? • Model self-talk: Speak about yourself and your kids in ways you want them to internalise • Turn down the noise: Be intentional about listening to the quieter, calmer thoughts • Create better scripts: If reality feels hard, visualise what you want - your brain will follow
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Links in the notes 1
Transcript
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