These are the stories that shape our lives. So, it is essential to ask ourselves if the story is accurate. Do the statistics back it up? Does it align with the current data? Is there any way to prove that your core stories are right or wrong?

One example is the addition of traveling competitive sports teams to society. People do travel sports on weekends because they have told themselves a story that Johnny playing is the key to future success in sports; it will provide additional enjoyment to their life, and a scholarship waits at the end.

They are not listening to the data, which suggests none of those things are true. More sports typically equal less enjoyment, more injuries, and no greater chance of a scholarship. And for the followers of Jesus, it means the absence from Church worship, loss of connection to a faith community, and demonstrates a contradictory values system by the parents.

Stories shape worlds.

As a Christian, you need to make sure the story you tell yourself is backed by data and the word of God; if it isn’t, you need to find a different, more accurate story to guide your life.