The Story You're Not Telling (But Should)

Hey Beyonder!

I used to think my wins made the best stories.

Turns out, I was wrong.

The stories that actually connect? They're about the version of me who didn't know better yet.

What This Really Means

Every person has two versions of themselves.

Version one: The person who hadn't figured it out yet. Version two: The person who learned the hard way.

Most of us only share version two. The polished one. The confident one.

But here's the thing — real connection happens in the gap between them.

How to Tell This Story

Start with what you believed before.

Not what you know now. What you genuinely thought back then.

"I used to think posting every single day meant I was consistent."

Just honesty. No looking back with hindsight yet.

Show what that belief cost you.

"I burned out. My content became repetitive. I started dreading the thing I loved."

This is where people feel it.

Share when things clicked.

Not some dramatic movie moment. Just when you realized.

"It hit me when I noticed I was creating more but enjoying it way less."

This is your turning point.

Explain what you learned.

Without preaching. Without acting like you've got it all figured out now.

"Consistency isn't about frequency. It's about sustainability."

Now they're learning with you, not from you.

End with a question for them.

"If you're forcing yourself to show up every day, maybe it's time to ask what consistency really means for you."

Leave the door open.

Why This Actually Works

Think about the last time someone gave you advice.

Did you want them to lecture you from the top of some mountain?

Or did you want them to say "Hey, I messed this up too. Here's what I figured out."

That's the difference.

This framework replaces authority with honesty. It builds trust without trying to impress. It sounds like the conversation you have in your own head.

When to Use This

• When you learned something the hard way

• When you changed your mind about something important

• When you want depth instead of just views

It won't go viral. It might not even get that many likes.

But it'll stay with people longer than most things you create.

Your Turn

What's one thing you used to believe that you don't anymore?

Not a small thing. Something that actually changed how you work or create or think.

Write it down. Just the old belief and what replaced it.

That's your next story.

Keep telling them,

Epaphra

P.S. The stories you're embarrassed about from your past? Those are usually the ones worth sharing. The ones that make you think "I can't believe I thought that" are exactly the ones someone else needs to hear right now.

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