Note: Episode 15 Show Notes & Resource Guide are available at the end of this entry.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes what used to work brilliantly in your life suddenly feels forced, inauthentic, or even counterproductive? You're doing everything that should work according to your past experience, but instead of flowing forward, you're hitting walls at every turn.
You might be story-hopping—carrying the operating system of your old narrative into the landscape of your new one.
A college mentor once told me something that has stayed with me for decades: "Something is only logical within the context of its home narrative." He would give examples from literature—how it would be completely illogical for animals to talk in our everyday world, but place those elements in Narnia, and suddenly they make perfect sense within that story's framework.
The same principle applies to the real transitions we navigate as women. When we cross thresholds—into motherhood, a new career, a different relationship with our bodies, or any significant life passage—we often try to apply the logic of our previous chapter to our current reality. And it simply doesn't work.
The Intelligence of Old Patterns
Before exploring how to navigate this phenomenon, it's crucial to understand that the behaviors you're ready to release weren't random or neurotic. They were intelligent responses to the story you were living at the time.
Consider the woman who developed perfectionist tendencies in an unpredictable childhood household. In that context, controlling every detail she could was brilliant survival strategy. It gave her agency in chaos and earned approval from overwhelmed adults. That perfectionism wasn't pathology—it was intelligence.
But thirty years later, when she's building a business that requires innovation and risk-taking, that same perfectionism becomes paralyzing. What was once protective adaptation has become creative limitation.
This pattern appears everywhere: The fierce independence that helped you survive an unreliable family system might now be preventing you from receiving the support that would allow your business to thrive. The hypervigilance that kept you safe in a previous relationship might be creating anxiety in your current, healthy partnership.
Recognizing the Story Shift
How do you know when you're story-hopping? Here are some telltale signs:
Persistent struggle despite right actions. You're working harder but achieving less. Strategies that used to be effective now feel forced or inauthentic.
Internal resistance to your own desires. You find yourself wanting things that feel "wrong" according to your old operating system. The ambitious woman raised to be accommodating feels guilty about her leadership desires.
Old fears about new opportunities. You're being invited into experiences that align with your new chapter, but they trigger terror based on your old story's rules. The invitation to lead feels dangerous because in your previous narrative, visibility meant vulnerability.
Energy drain from natural expression. Activities that should energize you in your new story feel exhausting because you're fighting your old programming. Leading feels draining because you're trying to lead while being invisible.
When you're in the right story with the right logic, there's flow even when things are challenging. When you're story-hopping, everything feels like swimming upstream.
The Sacred Art of Logic-Letting-Go
Once you recognize that you're carrying outdated operating systems, how do you actually let them go? This requires both practical steps and mystical surrender—what I call the sacred art of logic-letting-go.
First, honor the transition as sacred. Recognize that you're in a liminal space where old logic is dying and new logic is being born. This isn't a problem to solve quickly; it's a transformation to move through with reverence.
Next, practice discernment over demolition. Rather than bulldozing old patterns, discern which aspects still serve and which need composting. Maybe your previous story's emphasis on preparation remains valuable, but its attachment to perfection doesn't.
Finally, experiment with new behaviors in low-stakes situations. If your old story said "never take up space," try speaking first in a casual conversation. If your previous narrative demanded "always have a plan," follow an intuitive impulse for an afternoon.
Your New Story's Logic
Here's what I've discovered about new logic: it often feels wrong before it feels right. The operating system of your emerging story might contradict everything you were taught about what's appropriate, safe, or good. That discomfort is often a sign you're moving in the right direction.
New logic often includes paradoxes that would have been incomprehensible in your old story. Rest becomes productive. Slowing down creates more time. Saying no opens more opportunities. Taking up space makes room for others.
The key is approaching this new logic with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of "This feels wrong," try "This feels unfamiliar." Instead of "I shouldn't want this," explore "What if wanting this is right for my new story?"
An Invitation Deeper
In Episode 15 of Moon & Fire, I dive much deeper into this phenomenon of story-hopping. I share personal examples of my own logic shifts, explore how to identify the specific rules of your old and new narratives, and offer a practical Story Inventory tool for navigating this transition.
I also discuss the courage required for this kind of transformation—because story-hopping isn't just about changing behaviors; it's about questioning the fundamental assumptions that have organized your entire life.
This episode is for anyone who suspects they might be applying yesterday's logic to today's opportunities, or who feels stuck between who they were and who they're becoming.
May you honor the wisdom of your old stories while embracing the calling of your new ones
May you trust the intelligence that guides you across every threshold
May you move with grace between what was and what's becoming
May you discover the sacred logic that serves your authentic becoming
Remember the sacred cycles. Reclaim your radiant fire. Unleash your intuitive magic.
Listen to Episode 15:
EPISODE 15 SHOW NOTES
Episode #15: "Story-Hopping: The Sacred Art of Leaving Old Logic Behind”
Brief Description:
Explore the fascinating phenomenon of "story-hopping" - what happens when we cross from one season of life into another but continue operating with the logic of our old narrative in the landscape of our new one. I share how to recognize when you're applying outdated patterns to new circumstances and offer practical guidance for discerning the emerging logic that will serve your authentic becoming. Discover why the behaviors that once served you brilliantly might now be limiting your growth, and learn the sacred art of releasing old operating systems with gratitude while embracing the intelligence of your new chapter.
key quotes
"Something is only logical within the context of its home narrative."
"When we move from one chapter to the next, we often try to apply the operating system of our old story to the landscape of our new one. And it simply doesn't work."
"The behaviors you're ready to release weren't random or neurotic - they were intelligent responses to the story you were living at the time."
"This is what I call story-hopping - that liminal space where we've crossed a threshold but are still carrying the beliefs, behaviors, and operating systems of our previous chapter."
"What was once intelligent adaptation has become creative limitation."
"When you're in the right story with the right logic, there's a flow to life even when it's challenging. When you're story-hopping, everything feels like swimming upstream."
"This isn't about abandoning our dreams or desires. It means releasing our attachment to exactly how they must manifest and on what timeline."
"New logic often includes paradoxes that would have been incomprehensible in your old story. Rest becomes productive. Slowing down creates more time. Saying no opens more opportunities."
"The key is to approach this new logic with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of 'This feels wrong,' try 'This feels unfamiliar.'"
"Story-hopping requires tremendous courage. It's not just about changing behaviors; it's about questioning the fundamental assumptions that have organized your entire life."
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