Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. And today I'm going to explore the difference between facts and stories, and talk about why it's important for us to see the difference. So to begin with, let me give you a few examples of the difference between a fact and a story. Fact, she was late. Story, she was late because she's selfish and she doesn't really care about me.

Okay. Fact, I have $2 in my bank account. Not for me. I've got more than $2 in my bank account. Story, I'm poor.

I only have $2 in my bank account and I'll always struggle. I never have enough. Fact, it's raining. Story, it's horrible weather. What a dreadful day.

Fact, he didn't ask me on a second date. Story, he doesn't like me. No one ever does. I'm unattractive and I'll probably always be alone. Okay.

So according to dictionary.com, facts and stories are defined as follows: a fact, something that actually exists or existed, reality, truth; stories, a narrative about the facts, which can be either true or fictitious. So, if you were speaking about the facts, you would report only what happened very objectively with nothing added. A bit like a camera would have seen it. The camera doesn't have an opinion or an emotional reaction. It just sees the scene.

Our stories about the facts though, this is where it gets a little tricky, they can be colored by our particular beliefs, our opinions, our self images, our judgments, our desires, and so on. In our stories, we often make interpretations and meanings out of the facts and that can distort our own ability to see things clearly. In our stories, we often make assumptions and come to conclusions that are not accurate and can often be really unhelpful. Importantly, our stories have the ability to create a lot of emotional turmoil and suffering, and that's why it's really important every now and then to pause when we're anxious, when we're stressed, when we're feeling reactive or overwhelmed to see what kind of stories we're telling ourselves. Once we can see the stories, if they're unhelpful, we can let them go.

How do we let them go? We let a story go by simply seeing that it's just a story and not a fact. It's only when we buy into the stories that they create suffering. So for instance, so you just told yourself the story that it's a horrible day, it's horrible weather. And you start to feel that emotional reaction in your body, that negativity and grumpiness coming in. Then you can inquire and see, okay, I'm telling myself a story that it's a horrible day, but it's not the reality.

It's just a story. And then you can let go and come back to the fact of the moment. And the fact of the moment in that case is it's simply raining. Now we're free to just enjoy the sound of the rain and the coolness of the air with no negativity. So here's my invitation.

The next time you do feel yourself feeling a bit reactive or negative emotions are arising, just pause, take a breath and check in to see what story you're telling yourself. And if it's unhelpful for you, just try mentally noting to yourself, just a story, and then bring your full attention back to the present moment. In that way you unhook from unhelpful stories and find more calm, ease, and clarity in everyday life. And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now let's settle in for today's meditation.