In today’s episode, we’re talking about fortune telling lies—the kind of lies people tell us about how they think our future will unfold. These often sound like:
“Because you are ____, you’ll never be able to ____.”
Sometimes they come from a place of care, but most often they are projections of someone else’s fear, doubt, or insecurity. And when we internalize them, they can plant seeds of fear that shape the way we move through life—even if those predictions never actually come true.
I’ll share a very personal story about how I was told I would one day lose my love for people if I pursued social work—a fortune telling lie that never came true. Instead, 20 years into the field, my love and respect for people has only grown deeper. But the fear that took root from believing that lie? That did affect me, in ways I only see clearly now.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• The two types of lies we’re often told: lies about identity and lies about the future.
• How “fortune telling lies” can quietly shape your mindset and decisions.
• Why these lies usually say more about the person speaking them than about you.
• A story from my career in social work that shows how fear from a lie can take root—even when the prediction never comes true.
• A reframing practice you can use when someone speaks fear over your future.
Why This Matters:
When we absorb fortune telling lies, we often let fear steer our paths—sometimes in subtle but powerful ways. But when we learn to recognize these lies for what they are, we can release them, reclaim our energy, and move forward in alignment with our truth.
If you missed last week’s episode (Part 1 of the series), I encourage you to go back and listen. I shared how lies about identity—being told I was “too muscular” to be a ballerina or “too sensitive” for certain careers—shaped the course of my life. This week builds on that conversation and invites you to look at the lies spoken over your own future.