The plot of the Wizard of Oz: “a stranger comes to town and kills the first person she meets, she then recruits a group of strangers to join her in finding and killing the victim’s sister.” We have a story in our head about the Wizard of Oz, and this story about it is just as factually true as the story in your head. We all have stories in our head about other things too. And if you are telling yourself a story that is making you miserable, why don’t you tell yourself another story that is just as true, but makes you happy?
I used to get frustrated when I was passed over for promotions by someone who was less qualified than me, and less skilled at the job, but more skilled at kissing the boss’ butt. I was frustrated because the story I told myself was that I worked at a place that was a meritocracy and treated people fairly. In surveys, people rate my job as a terrible place to work. When I started telling myself that this place is dysfunctional and erratic, then I wasn’t upset when I didn’t get the job anymore. I have several resumes out now, and I’m still interviewing internally. I have no negative reaction whatsoever anymore because I don’t believe this place makes good choices so **of course** they didn’t pick me. Why would they make a rational choice at an irrational, dysfunctional place like this?