The Power of Story

Stories are all around us. We read them in the news and in books.  We watch them on the stage or on screens.  We hear them in music and over meals with family and friends. There are ancient stories and modern stories, biographies and autobiographies...

Stories are powerful. Understanding how stories work is important to putting the pieces of your dream together. Last week we introduced reflection as a key to our unfolding story. We talked about how we each have a story that is in the process of being written and how reflection helps us to understand ourselves and to influence the chapters that are still to come.

"As a man believes in his heart, so is he"

So how well do you know your story? Who are the key characters? Can you see the themes that run like threads through your story? Are you aware of how your higher purpose, personal vision and core values are being expressed in your story? 

Many people I have talked to have a hard time answering those questions. I know that I do. Those who choose to honestly reflect on their lives often feel they are drifting or wandering on the edge of something great. That is not surprising. 

There are a lot of things that work to suppress our stories.

1) The stories that others have told us about ourselves.

2) The stories that we tell about ourselves.

3) The time that we spend immersed in stories, rather than engaging in our own story.

All great stories begin with someone living in an 'ordinary' world, not recognizing that they are on the edge of something bigger than them. Then, when it looks like nothing will ever change, the opportunity comes to say 'yes' to an unlikely call - a call that will become the adventure of their life and ultimately fulfill their dream.

Some of my favourite stories through the years.

There is much more to stories than the beginning, but every great story, like yours, has to begin somewhere.  I will talk more about our unfolding stories in another post.  For now, here are some questions to reflect on.  Whose story are you living so far - your's or someone else's?  And where are you in your story?