Own Your Story

Introduction

We all have a story. We are creating it, telling some of it, embellishing it, and often hiding it. Our stories are unique. They are filled with pleasure, pain, secrets, embarrassment, pride, shame, guilt. You name it.

What is Your Story?

Stories help us understand who we are and how we belong. Our stories carry memory, meaning, humor, wisdom, and pain.

They allow us to recognize ourselves in the lives of others, and to see familiar experiences from a different perspective.

The stories you tell about your own life matter. A story can imprison you in an old identity, or it can help you recognize growth, courage and possibility.

Story and Identity

Stories tell of events and experiences and are usually colored by interpretations, biases and judgments and opinions. Your story is not to be confused with who you are.

Pay Attention

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GREAT STORY

We as humans are fascinated with stories. There are the stories we read or heard as children, in school, or church, and on television or movie screens. Generally, as adults we know the difference between true stories and fictional ones.

In the book publishing industry, 75% – 85% of titles fall into the non-fiction category while around 15% is fiction., However, fiction books account for a disproportionately larger share of total book sales. Do those percentages necessarily equate to fewer people being interested in facts over drama? Maybe, ma;ybe not.

I think most people would agree that they prefer a great story whether it’s based in fact or not. Your story is based on factual experiences and events. How you tell it and how your life plays out based on the interpretation and the telling of that story is within your control.

We can be the hero of our own stories, or be defeated by them. Which will you choose?

PRACTICE

Try this today:

Pause during the day and ask yourself:.

When I relay parts of my story to someone else, what do I notice?
How does that make you feel?
What do I tell myself about certain events or experiences?

Reflect:

Take one slow breath and quietly ask yourself:

What story about your life are you ready to tell differently?

Give Parts of Your Story a New Twist

Take an event in your life that you interpreted as bad. Sit with it, then see if you can find a lesson in it. What did you learn from this? Now, retell the story of the event with this new perspective and how you could relate to it differently in the future.

Key Takeaways:

The meaning you give your story determines how you carry it forward.
Your story is influenced by interpretations, biases, judgments, and opinions.
The story you tell about you is different from who you are.
Look at whether you are empowered by your story or defeated by it.
Great stories carry lessons. What have you learned from yours?