The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Muwado Ad by Muwado - Africa's Storytelling Platform

I was watching Keke Palmer interview Oprah recently, and I found myself thinking about something they touched on.

They both spoke about faith, not as certainty that life would always unfold as they hoped, but as something that shaped what they believed was possible for themselves.

It made me think about self-belief.

Is it something we’re born with, or something our environment gives us? I suspect it’s a bit of both.

One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the belief that I could become anything. As a child, I genuinely believed that if I worked hard enough, I could succeed, especially when it came to academics. It never occurred to me that I couldn’t.

But life has a way of testing beliefs that once felt unshakable.

In a world that celebrates highlight reels, promotions, awards and carefully curated success, I’d be lying if I said I’d always held onto that same confidence. There have been seasons when I believed the quieter, more critical voice instead.

Looking back, I’ve realised something.

My capabilities hadn’t changed nearly as much as my perception of them had.

I’ve spent enough time in both confidence and self-doubt to know that confidence isn’t constant, but my capabilities aren’t as fragile as I once thought.

For me, faith has been what keeps drawing me back. It reminds me that my best seasons don’t define my worth, just as my hardest ones don’t diminish it. It helps me challenge the stories fear and self-doubt tell me, and return to the truth.

If you’re in a season of self-doubt, don’t mistake it for the truth. Sometimes the story you’ve been believing is waiting to be rewritten.

Written by

Joanita Male

Follow

Did this story move you? Every gift goes directly to Joanita Male — writers on Muwado earn from reader appreciation, not algorithms. Even $1 makes a difference.

Gift Once Gift Monthly