Are you owning your personal story, weaving it into all parts of your life?
Oftentimes we get caught up into the systems of our world. Engaged in family, we work to support their needs, and react to things that bubble up daily. When it comes to our professional career many adhere to the asks that come our way, worry we aren’t being seen and heard, thus become taskmasters fulfilling the needs of others. The end result is that we place our thoughts and ideas to the side and find ourselves lost over time.
Brene Brown, social worker, researcher and storyteller describes storytelling as a means to, “help us all impose order on chaos—including emotional chaos.”
For these reasons we tend to leave personal and professional stories behind, avoid ways to leverage our uniqueness in areas of our being. Sad but true, oftentimes we don’t own our story, craft it in ways that support us or use it to drive momentum in the way that we’d like to. At times hide our story, fearful that being transparent will cause others to look down upon us.
Story Connects Us
The moth podcast, created in 2012 focuses on a different perspective, speakers reflect on their story in positive ways, “I love The Moth because it’s very origin is deeply rooted in our desire to connect with each other through shared experiences in stories.”
“You don’t really know someone until you know their story.”
The purpose of the moth’s movement is for a vast array of people to be heard, avoiding versions of a rant.
Take Care Not To Derail Your Story
Caught life systems, we often find ourselves going down paths that others have directed us to. Over time we get lost in their story, exhausted having worked to fulfill other people’s dreams or a company mission.
Many times, we also get lost in a money state, focus on finance being the lead generator of success. We suffer because we define money as our core patch of success. Heading down that rabbit hole we lose key components of who we are, what we represent and lose the ability to define our gifts when asked what they are.
Define Your Power Story
This is all about distinguishing our characteristics, establishing recognizable images or identity for a person or thing. Crafting a narrative of personal story grounded in truth, to seek interest or amusement by others. It also names us as the narrator of our life events, a succession of incidents to include scenes from our history.
That said, life weaves in so many directions, how do we decide what to pluck from the many roads we’ve been down? What serves our mission and our values in the best ways? Stories connect and persuade us to share the best of us, transporting us to another time and place.
The Story Collider, a non profit production company focuses on personal stories supported by science. The brain lights up when someone listens to a narrative. Listeners in turn may keep thinking about the story and talk to others about it. Sharing stories that create common ground land in the space of personal truth. Vivid emotional stories feel more real and important and enlighten others.
Impact of Story on Mental Health.
Many of us find the need to be the person who works like crazy to be seen, to check all the boxes. Unfortunately, that person suffers from becoming a generic doer instead of a definer of individual brilliance.
Entrepreneurs are a group that have a difficult time showing up authentically, they spread themselves thin working to create and innovate, to launch multiple business ideas. Frustration becomes king after all the work needed to be seen in saturated areas.
When asked what we like or love in life, who we are, what we stand for, what differentiates us as professionals or individuals we often have trouble defining ourselves. Before we know it, we are shredded, following the direction others have defined for us. We become lost, no longer have the confidence to speak our voice and eventually go radio silent. The end result is that we feel small and fall into a fearful state.
To Grow We Must “Know” Ourselves
To be fulfilled we must know what drives our energy and our souls. To build our castle, we must know what delights us, connect with the materials that craft and design it. When we carve time to understand our current evolved place, we are solid. Grounded. Automatically stand taller. We create, innovate in streamlined ways, openly share ideas, our gifts so that we are remembered.
Current data suggests storytelling improves memory, encourages positive moods and elevates interpersonal relationships. The impact of social isolation in the pandemic calls for storytelling to help build healthy relationships. There is great comfort in hearing we are not alone and that we can overcome challenging times together.
As individuals we should lead ourselves down a path that resonates with ourselves. As team members we should introduce our core elements that not only contribute to group efforts but increase our member status. As executives you can elevate into a leadership space, direct teams, companies, enlighten and forecast more clearly. People will take note of your expertise, influence based on your stance. Draw to your light.
Story Builds Community
Now, with eight billion + people in the world not everyone will align with us. However, when we know our language, our value, we sprinkle inspiration to our people. This draws in a community that shares similar thoughts and missions, trips the switch for people to see and hear your individuality. Authentic qualities.
When we wish to engage, activate emotion we must integrate story. This experience sends brain waves that mirror the storyteller to the listener and vice versa.
The more you invest in your beliefs and your story:
- you extend history, expertise and wisdom to the outer components of life.
- launch into strong, meaningful spaces.
- fuel energy which motivates you to speak up.
- share creative thoughts, ideas.
Owning your story is a strategy for business yet a warming process for a positive life. Sharing your learning, your meaning plus mission is fulfilling in many realms.
Are you ready to tell your story?