The Myth of "A Great Love Starts with a Great Story"

Have you ever stopped to think about the stories you tell yourself?
The ones that shape your reality and define your expectations.

Whether it's believing you’re not enough or convincing yourself that today will be a bad day. But one area where I rarely question my beliefs is in love and relationships.

There’s an unspoken script.

A vacuum chamber of expectations about how love should look. It’s the romanticized meet-cute in a library. Or the serendipitous moment when two strangers collide, scattering papers everywhere. These idealized scenarios set impossibly high standards for what love must be. Once we buy into these stories, we start searching for evidence to support them. Reinforcing the not-that-good narrative we've created for ourselves. That’s the haunting part: being trapped in a story that might not serve us or might not even be real.

But what if you already lived one of those stories movies are about? Should that be your new benchmark for life? You have the undeniable proof, so this your new narrative?

I’ve been stuck on this idea. The belief that a great love must come from a great story. I have gotten first-hand evidence of it. But why should it be that way? Why do I feel compelled to follow this blueprint? If there’s an honest, deep, and raw connection, doesn’t that matter more than any grand narrative?

It is important to step back and question our beliefs from time to time.
And if you can't explain where they are from, they are not yours.

Truth is.

From how I see every love has the potential to create its own great story.

It doesn’t have to start with fireworks or cinematic moments. The simplest events in our lives can become extraordinary with the right lens. The secret lies in how we choose to see and shape our experiences. Even the ordinary can transform into an epic adventure. Filled with challenges, triumphs, and growth.

Instead of clinging to the idea that “A great love starts with a great story," we should embrace that: Every love can create a great story. It’s not about where it begins but about what can be built together. That spark can build the greatest story, fuel it. Yes, it will be bitter at times. Loving is an active verb, not reactive. It will challenge you and make you question everything. But I think it’s worth pursuing.

History's greatest stories are often rooted in love. Not because they started perfectly. But because they grew into something meaningful through imperfection. When things aren’t perfect, it means they’re ready to evolve, ready to become something real.

This train of thought made me pause and reflect on the stories I tell myself about love and life. What evidence am I using to support these narratives? Am I building something meaningful or just chasing an illusion? Are they mine or someone else's idea?

And here’s a reminder for myself: When it feels imperfect, don’t dismiss it. Imperfection is often the starting point of something beautiful, a story worth telling. Apply it to learning, business, sports, and relationships.

You create your narratives on how to play the game.

Until next time,
Mateo)