After returning from Barbados and easing back into UK routines, I'm here to talk about the stories we tell ourselves... the ones that whisper “it’s harder for me” and quietly hold us back from trying.
Maybe you’ve thought:
“I can’t because I’ve got kids.”
“It’s harder because of my joints.”
“I don’t have the time, money or energy.”
Those challenges are real, but are they the full stop at the end of your sentence? Or are they just stories that feel protective in the moment but actually keep you stuck?
In this episode, I share my own experiences...from running with young children, recovering from rheumatic fever, and even facing setbacks in Hyrox competitions, to show how shifting perspective changes everything.
We’ll explore:
Why belief shapes behaviour (Bandura’s self-efficacy theory).
How small wins create momentum and rebuild confidence.
The power of adopting a beginner’s mind (Shoshin).
Why safety and calm are vital for sustainable fat loss and lasting change.
How to spot when your protective stories are really self-handicapping.
Here are the reflective questions and a journal prompt so you can start rewriting your own story today.
📝 Reflective Questions from this Episode:
What’s the story you find yourself telling most often about why it’s harder for you?
Is that story protecting you — or is it limiting you?
If you didn’t need to prove anything to your past self or anyone else, what’s one tiny step you’d be curious enough to try today?
💡 Journal Prompt:
Write: “Just because I think it doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Then list the stories that have been holding you back. For each one, ask:
Is it fact or is it fear?
What would it look like to test it?
Find me on Instagram @ruthmacfit.
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