Mapping Your Life: Discovering Meaning in Your Story
Last week, we explored what it means to move from Stuck to Free and how self-awareness is the first step toward living in alignment with your truth.
This week, we’re taking that awareness a step further by mapping the chapters of your life.
Think of your life like a book filled with seasons, transitions, and moments that have shaped who you are. Some chapters may be vibrant and full of joy. Others may feel heavier, incomplete, or confusing.
As you reflect on your own life, consider naming each chapter. What emotions rise up? Who were the key characters? What was the setting, the tone, the turning point?
Naming your chapters isn’t about labeling your past it’s about making meaning from it. It helps you reclaim authorship of your story, especially in places where life felt out of control.
So you might ask: what is an example of a chapter of your life? A reminder: it can be short or long. It’s just a part that stands out to you.
Let me toss you parts of my COVID chapter, one that might be similar for you, though I think regardless, it will help demonstrate the point.
At the beginning of COVID, I was working at a university, helping oversee the student life aspect on campus. That chapter brought emotions and skills like adjustability, exhaustion, confusion, and even joy. It felt like Groundhog Day at times. Ultimately, I made the decision to switch professions (did any of you?). It raised questions like: could this be sustainable? What do I really want?
COVID brought about a quietness of life at the beginning. Life did move at a slower pace. It brought concern for the health of loved ones, but also sparked new rhythms. I began biking again on the Rails to Trails, something I still do today (do you have any?). It was also a season of meaningful connection: virtual book clubs, Zoom family calls, and online trivia with extended family. There was intentionality. There was reflection. And there were emotions on both ends of the spectrum.
That chapter, if I had to name it, might be something like "Pivot Point: A Reintroduction to Self."
And just like any story, your understanding of it may change. That’s okay. That’s growth.
As you reflect, you might feel unexpected emotions. That’s part of it. Give yourself room to feel. Flexibility is key, the story isn’t static. You’re allowed to revisit, reinterpret, and rewrite.
This work is deep. It’s real. And it matters. Because when you can hold your story with compassion and curiosity, you begin to experience the freedom that comes with self-understanding.
Want to go deeper? My full course, From Stuck to Free, opens soon—and it’s built to walk you through this work, one chapter at a time. Stay connected and be the first to know when enrollment opens.
About the Author
Sarah Currie, Ph.D., LCMHC, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of Halos Counseling. She’s passionate about helping individuals and couples grow in self-awareness and emotional resilience. In addition to her therapy work, Sarah creates practical, insightful courses that guide people toward meaningful personal growth and freedom. Learn more about Sarah Currie, LCMHC.