Gary Peters

The power of telling a different story

For most of my adult life, I’ve made a living doing graphic design work on a computer. I’ve enjoyed it. I was the guy who knew about design and computers. In late December 2019, I walked into a solid glass door while at work. I gave myself a cut above my eye and a concussion. Five years later, I still struggle to work at a computer for more than 21 minutes without taking a break. And after three of four sessions, I’m done for the day.

“I make my living doing graphic design using a computer,” I told myself. I’ve realised, with reluctance, that this story is no longer helpful. It’s limiting and sometimes upsetting. I can’t use a computer the way I used to. It hurts my brain.

What new story can I tell myself? What new ways of thinking will I embrace? What if I see what’s before me and explore new behaviours?

Or, as the title of Marshall Goldsmith’s book says, “What got you here won’t get you there.”