Have you ever sent a text just to be left on read? Or had someone cut you off in traffic? Or had your boss call you into their office? How many of you felt your heart rate increase just reading those? If so, sweetie, you might be caught up in drama.

We are meaning-making machines, determined to create a story for every single thing. We are the directors, writers, and stars of our own perpetual soap opera, desperately trying to fill in the blanks. The truth? We often don’t know why these things happened, and spoiler alert: it usually doesn’t have anything to do with you. Yet, the drama it causes, both internally and (perish the thought) externally, is exhausting.

The Drama Society: A Very Expensive Subscription

So, what is the drama you’re so hooked on? Drama is an agitated state of being in reaction to a situation. It’s the cascade of emotions, frantic thoughts, body sensations, and self-pity that flares up because something happened. It’s a narrative, a "drama story," born from a reactive state where you cast yourself as the victim and others as the villain.

The characteristics of the Drama Story are as predictable as a reality show script:

• Casting Characters: You subtly or overtly cast yourself as the Damsel in Distress or Captain Save-A-Hoe, and others become the villains (or the Train Wrecks).

• Self-Perception: The story is built to make yourself "look as good as possible" while ensuring you are "never at fault."

• Fragmentation: This kind of storytelling separates you from truly owning your experience, your feelings, and your part in the beautiful, messy dance of life.

• Addiction: The chaos is fueled by a subtle addiction to the stress hormones released by the conflict. It feels good in a weird, twisted way—like your brain is hooked on its own little reality show cliffhanger.

The cost of this subscription is always too high. Drama is a "slippery slope" that siphons away your most valuable resources: Time, Energy, and Genuine Connection. And more importantly, how can you truly connect with yourself if you’re always playing a role?

Your Deliberate Decision to Be Free

Tired of being the star of your own soap opera? The moment you decide to move beyond the drama is the moment you access your power. The way out is to shift to the "non-drama version," or simply the facts.

The "Facts Version" adheres to “what’s so” without judgment or any added story. Crucially, it bravely includes all the facts, even the uncomfortable ones about your own involvement, your reactions, or your feelings. This shift is an act of profound integrity, choosing to be whole and complete with your reality. It’s like finally ditching those drama-tinted glasses and seeing the world (and yourself) with refreshing clarity.

This is not a subtle suggestion; this is a conscious shift and a deliberate decision.

For instance, let's look at a common trigger. The Drama Narrative for a text message left "on read" goes: “They are ignoring me on purpose. They don’t respect me. I must have said something wrong, and now they hate me.” The Fact-Only Interpretation is simple: "I sent a text at 1:15 PM. It is now 3:15 PM. I have not received a reply." By choosing the facts, you gain Mental Freedom from spiraling and Freedom to Act by sending a polite reminder or moving on with your day.

Or, when your boss calls you into their office without explaining why, the Drama Story screams: “Oh my god, I’m fired. My life is over. I should start packing my desk now.” The Facts Version is just: "My boss asked me to come to the office. The purpose is currently unknown." This simple choice grants you instant Emotional Freedom from panic and Relational Freedom to approach the meeting calmly and professionally, rather than as a suspect in your own imagined corporate tragedy.

The Four Freedoms You Gain

Choosing the facts over the fictional drama is the single most powerful key to unlocking your True Awesome Life. This single choice grants you four spectacular types of freedom:

1. Emotional Freedom: You step off the emotional rollercoaster of drama, leading to greater peace, stability, and joy. You are no longer exhausted by imaginary conflicts.

2. Mental Freedom: You stop the relentless rumination and overthinking that drama requires. You reclaim all that mental energy to put toward your actual goals and desires.

3. Relational Freedom: You are free to build authentic relationships based on clarity and truth, not suspicion and manufactured roles. You stop treating the people you love like suspects in your ongoing dramatic saga.

4. Freedom to Act: When your mind is clear, your decisions become effective and powerful. You can move forward in your life—not just reacting to every bump in the road, but deliberately creating your path.

The Great Drama Detox: 3 Ways to Cultivate Fact-Finding

Ready to cancel your subscription to the Drama Channel? Here are three practical ways to make the conscious shift today:

1. The Fact-Finding Mission: When you feel the familiar whoosh of emotional overwhelm, immediately stop and write down the situation. Draw a line down the middle. On the left, write down the Drama Story (every terrifying thought). On the right, write down the Neutral, Undeniable Facts. Do not proceed until you have separated the two.

2. Challenge the Role: Anytime you catch yourself complaining or feeling victimized, ask yourself: “Am I wearing the Damsel in Distress cape right now? If so, what is the action the CEO of my life would take instead?” You are the CEO, darling, not the casting director of a tragedy.

3. The Anti-Rant Rule: When someone comes to you with drama, listen, but do not participate in the narrative building. Your single, sassy response is: “Interesting. What are the facts?” If they can’t provide them, politely end the conversation. Your peace is non-negotiable, and you are not responsible for putting out their Dumpster Fires.

So, the next time you feel the urge to dive into a dramatic saga, remember: you have the power to choose. You can choose the facts, embrace your reality, and reclaim your time, energy, and genuine connections. It's time to star in your own inspiring, non-dramatic masterpiece!

Know that you are loved!

🧡🧚‍♂️🧡