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The Narrative Audit

Read each statement slowly. Don't analyze. Just notice what sounds like your own internal voice — not something you've heard about, but something that actually runs in your head.
For each note, mark your honest response. If something is Close, you'll have space to write the more accurate version in your own words. The notes that make you slightly uncomfortable to see written down are the ones worth sitting with.

Worthiness

Notes about the conditions required before you're allowed to simply exist without earning it.

"I can't just be here. I have to be here for something."

"I can't just be here. I have to be here for something."
A
B
C

"I don't get to need things."

"I don't get to need things."
A
B
C

"I have to be useful or I'm in the way."

"I have to be useful or I'm in the way."
A
B
C

"I'll rest when I've done enough — but I don't actually know what enough is."

"I'll rest when I've done enough — but I don't actually know what enough is."
A
B
C

"If I stop producing, what am I?"

"If I stop producing, what am I?"
A
B
C

Safety

Notes written by a nervous system still scanning for the threat that used to be everywhere.

"This is usually where it goes wrong."

"This is usually where it goes wrong."
A
B
C

"Don't get too comfortable. Something's coming."

"Don't get too comfortable. Something's coming."
A
B
C

"If I stop paying attention, it all falls apart."

"If I stop paying attention, it all falls apart."
A
B
C

"Good things don't last — I've seen how this ends."

"Good things don't last — I've seen how this ends."
A
B
C

"I have to stay one step ahead or I'll get caught."

"I have to stay one step ahead or I'll get caught."
A
B
C

Belonging

Notes about what connection costs and what happens if you stop paying.

"I became the one who keeps things running. That's my role."

"I became the one who keeps things running. That's my role."
A
B
C

"People want what I do, not who I am."

"People want what I do, not who I am."
A
B
C

"If I come undone, they'll leave."

"If I come undone, they'll leave."
A
B
C

"Being needed is the closest thing to being loved."

"Being needed is the closest thing to being loved."
A
B
C

"I can't show them this part. They wouldn't stay."

"I can't show them this part. They wouldn't stay."
A
B
C

Adequacy

Notes that keep the scoreboard running even when you're ahead.

"Everyone else seems more settled in this than I am."

"Everyone else seems more settled in this than I am."
A
B
C

"I'm keeping up — I'm just not convinced I should be here."

"I'm keeping up — I'm just not convinced I should be here."
A
B
C

"I did everything I was supposed to do. It didn't fix it."

"I did everything I was supposed to do. It didn't fix it."
A
B
C

"I'm one bad performance away from being found out."

"I'm one bad performance away from being found out."
A
B
C

"I can explain why I'm here. I just don't feel it."

"I can explain why I'm here. I just don't feel it."
A
B
C

Permission

Notes about what you're allowed to want, feel, or take up space with.

"I don't know how to want things that could be taken away."

"I don't know how to want things that could be taken away."
A
B
C

"Rest feels like something I have to justify."

"Rest feels like something I have to justify."
A
B
C

"Wanting to be seen feels like I'm asking for too much."

"Wanting to be seen feels like I'm asking for too much."
A
B
C

"I don't get to ask for help. That's not my position."

"I don't get to ask for help. That's not my position."
A
B
C

"I can hold space for everyone else. I just can't take up any myself."

"I can hold space for everyone else. I just can't take up any myself."
A
B
C

Identity

Notes where the role and the person became indistinguishable.

"I became the smart kid. That's all I was."

"I became the smart kid. That's all I was."
A
B
C

"I'm the strong one. That's not a choice anymore — it's just true."

"I'm the strong one. That's not a choice anymore — it's just true."
A
B
C

"I've been the stable one for so long I don't know what I am without it."

"I've been the stable one for so long I don't know what I am without it."
A
B
C

"I built my whole life around being capable. Now I'm trapped in it."

"I built my whole life around being capable. Now I'm trapped in it."
A
B
C

"I'm whatever the situation needs me to be. I don't know what I am without that."

"I'm whatever the situation needs me to be. I don't know what I am without that."
A
B
C

One Last Thing

Pick the note that made you most uncomfortable to see written down. What does it make you do?

Not how it makes you feel. What it makes you do. The behavior is the thing.