We’ve all done it.

Told ourselves the same story over and over again—sometimes for years—without realizing how much power it holds. Stories like “Why does this have to be so hard?” or “I’m not cut out for this.” They sneak in, settle down, and start running the show. Until one day, something snaps us awake.

For Carrie Rowan, that moment happened in her bathroom.

She was a new mom, navigating major loss, and exhausted in every way possible. In the middle of her nightly routine, she caught herself mid-thought: Why does it have to be so hard? And just like that, she saw it. Not the hard—she already knew about that—but the story underneath it. The one she’d been repeating without question.

That was the beginning of a shift. And what followed was nothing short of a reimagining: of her story, her career, and her entire relationship to joy.

The narrative groove you didn’t realize you were stuck in

Carrie refers to it as “the groove in the record”—that repetitive thought loop we don’t even realize we’re playing on repeat. Until we do. And once we’re aware of it, we can lift the needle. We can ask new questions. We can tell a new story.

Most of the stories that shape us come from childhood—absorbed before we were even old enough to question them. They were handed to us by well-meaning adults, teachers, coaches, maybe even a stranger who said something that just stuck. And those old beliefs? They still run in the background unless we intentionally stop and rewrite the script.

Carrie’s work helps people do just that—through mindset work, meditation, music, and storytelling.

Creativity as a healing tool

After leaving the corporate world (and climbing the ladder to the top), Carrie returned to her childhood love of performing. But this time, it wasn’t just about being seen—it was about being real.

She wrote music. She created a book. She began speaking on stages. And she did it all while holding space for the messy, imperfect, beautiful healing that happens when we’re willing to use our voice—even if it shakes.

Her book, Tell A New Story, includes QR codes that let readers listen to original songs and meditations as they read. She calls those songs her “pearls”—polished from life’s oysters, raw moments turned into something of value. The music, the speaking, the journaling... it all becomes part of the process of helping others see themselves and know they’re not alone.

What if joy isn’t something you earn—but something you choose?

There’s a common myth that joy is the result—of success, of healing, of getting it all “right.” But Carrie flips that idea upside down. Joy isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you can intentionally practice. Every day.

It starts with the stories we tell ourselves. And it continues in the small moments—like sipping rosé with girlfriends, painting just for fun, or leaving a sticky note on your mirror that says: Things are always working out for me.

A gentle reminder if you’re feeling stuck:

You don’t need to overhaul your life to rewrite your story. You just need to notice the one you’re telling now. Get curious. Question the parts that feel heavy. Borrow courage from someone who believes in you. And then… start telling a new one.

One thought, one shift, one story at a time.

To connect with Carrie or learn more: https://carrierowan.com/