{
  "id": 11516944,
  "title": "Book excerpt: \"Narratives\" by Nancy Colier",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/book-excerpt-narratives-by-nancy-colier",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T20:01:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-excerpt-narratives-by-nancy-colier/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In her forthcoming book, \"Narratives: Let Go of the Stories That Keep You Stuck,\" psychotherapist Nancy Colier delves into the ways in which the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can hinder our ability to lead a more authentic and connected life. The following excerpt is from the book and provides a glimpse into the power of these narratives:\n\nLegends tell of Harry Houdini's escape from a maximum-security jail cell, where he failed to free himself despite hours of effort. He collapsed, only to discover that the cell door had unlocked on its own. The real prison, it turns out, was the story he held about being imprisoned in his mind. This is just one example of how our personal narratives can be the source of our own imprisonment.\n\nNancy Colier's book explores the concept that the stories we tell ourselves about our lives are often the real obstacles to freedom and happiness. These narratives within our heads can be the source of our struggles, as they shape our perceptions and realities. For instance, Francesca was upset because she believed that a bride had only invited her to be a bridesmaid due to her assumption that Francesca would never marry. In her mind, she felt insulted and humiliated, while the bride likely had no malicious intent.\n\nSimilarly, a man in a diner became visibly agitated when he perceived the waiter as ignoring him. He created a narrative that the waiter was disrespecting him and that he would be more respected if the server acknowledged his importance. The waiter was simply doing his job, but the man's personal narrative colored his perception and response.\n\nColier emphasizes that our personal narratives are not merely a personal preference; they determine our reality. We tend to believe that our stories are the same as everyone else's, but in reality, everyone has a unique movie playing inside their head. This movie is a reflection of our self and a drive to create meaning and survive. We weave our perceptions into a cohesive personal storyline that helps us make sense of the world and maintain a consistent sense of self.\n\nHowever, these personal narratives can also blind us to the truth. We often fail to recognize that our stories are just interpretations created by a biased narrator and shaped by our unique history. We don't just believe our story, but we also defend it at any cost. In doing so, we may lose sight of what is truly real and respond to others based on our self-created perceptions, rather than the objective reality.",
  "summary": "In her latest book, the psychotherapist writes about how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves can hold us back from living a more truthful and connected life.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nancy Colier's book 'Narratives' explores how personal stories hinder authenticity and connection.",
    "Examples given: Houdini's perceived jail cell and Francesca's bridesmaid assumption.",
    "Personal narratives shape perceptions, often leading to misinterpretation of reality."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}