Tell Me a Story, Tell Me Your Story
“Tell me a story.”
For some of us, that was our childhood routine. Every night, Mom or Dad or the grandparents would read a story. Sometimes it was rushed, often the reader lingered on illustrations, and the storytelling voice always hinted at dozens of voices and personalities. The perfect story was one that made us see things we hadn’t noticed before, that gave us permission to be silly, or that told us a deep, dark secret.
Story is the art of translating values into action. In a picture book, that’s done with a small character and a wide canvas. In life, it’s done by speaking out when something matters. Very good stories motivate others to see, be, and do. Strong leaders will use both the “head” and the “heart” of a given story to rally others to act and engage people to embrace their world view. Connection with other people, with our jobs, with our lives, with the things we like to do the most: these are the building blocks of any good story. That and bunnies, trucks, and zombies.
Oh, and a little something called CONNECTION.
Sometimes I find things in storybooks that resonate with my own experiences. Fictional characters often paint a picture that looks like me or feels like I do. How that character acts and responds shows the strength, smarts, and stamina that I also possess. In the mid to late 1990s, I had the unusual good fortune of being a Publicity Director before and after many of the Harry Potter books were launched. What a journey to work on promoting those books! At that time, it was something so much more than just a job; I truly connected with the series in more ways than one. Of course, we all discovered soon enough that readers across the world connected, too, which is why it became such a phenomenal multi-million copy bestselling series. (If you feel so inclined, check out my recent TEDx talk: “The Magical Power of Shared Purpose.”)
Who did I connect with the most? Why, Harry Potter, of course.
In the Harry Potter books, many characters are judged by others as having good or bad blood (literally—with the assignation of pure-bloods, half-bloods, and mud-bloods). Other characters define themselves by their magical abilities or financial situations. Dumbledore reminds us that who we are and the direction of our lives does not depend on our past, the amount of money we make, our parents, our ability to sing, our mental capacity to learn, our looks, or our athletic ability. Rather, it is our choices, whether large or small, that determine our character, personality, and the satisfaction we derive from life. Harry was (and is) a character who makes extraordinary choices. Though they may be choices borne out of loneliness, desperation, fear, kindness, curiosity—any emotion you can imagine—he is following his destiny.
When we take note of fictional characters, we often see parallels in our own lives. Story connects us to everyone and everything. Story also reveals weak spots. Scars mark our bodies with visible and challenging memories. Whatever life event gave us a scar, whether it was positive or pretty, matters greatly in how we connect with the past experiences and the people we used to know. Scars can represent deep hurt as well as amazing endurance, but they can also remind us of our daring, our strengths, and our mortality. Wounds heal and become scars. They just never go away.
Behind each scar is a story of survival. It has marked our body with a visible record of memories. Scars remind us to be grateful each day. There are scars of disappointment, fear activism, choice, exploration, and anger. Like a memory, a scar may fade with time or it may remain vivid and imprinted, it may be hidden and private, or blatantly visible. One thing all scars do is give us a unique mark on this world.
One of the most famous scars, ironically, is a lightning bolt on the forehead of none other than Harry Potter. So, where’s your lightning bolt? How will you get a spark and a kick in the pants? How will you use that connection to open yourself up a little bit more? When you read a story about someone else, your brain triggers a bunch of questions and self-evaluation. Think about a character from a story—Harry Potter or otherwise. Ask yourself:
What does this remind me of in my life?
What is this similar to in my life?
How is this different from my life?
Has something like this ever happened to me?
How does this relate to my life?
What were my feelings when I read this?
Creative expression through storytelling adds so much richness and dimension to life. The sheer joy of connecting to possibility, originality, and a unique way of being and expressing is part of what makes life so incredible. It’s the childlike wonder of stepping into uncharted territory, to explore what your unique soul has to offer the world.
However, tapping into our creative genius is often one of the greatest challenges that we face on our path. Have you ever sat down to write, or create a business plan, or work of art, or new project – and felt completely blocked? Or what’s more, have you experienced the sheer resistance that prevents you from even sitting down to work in the first place?
Connecting to your creative side helps you craft YOUR story.
Practice mindfulness and meditation. Often, when we’re overstimulated by our thoughts and the external world, it interferes with our natural ability to express our creative ideas. Take time out to meditate and still the rough waters of your mind. You may find guided meditations or music to be most helpful in bringing your thoughts to stillness – or you may find that silence is the best environment to tap into yourself. Whichever method works best for you, know that practicing at least 5-10 minutes of meditation per day will enhance your creative potential, as you create the space for your authentic self to be heard.
Dabble! There’s no better way to get creative than to, well, get creative! A lot of what blocks people creatively is simply a fear of failure. If you’re concerned with perfection, then chances are you won’t be putting yourself out there to explore and try new things – and potentially ignite your creative fire. So establish a space of exploration, where you commit to dabbling in a variety of creative endeavors. Take that ceramics class. Sign up for a writing workshop. Volunteer to help paint the community mural. When you enter a space of playful exploration, your creative fire will have room to burn bright!
Get into nature. There’s no better place to kindle the flame of creativity like the expansiveness of nature. If you’re feeling blocked or uninspired, set aside a day to spend in the forest, by the beach… or wherever makes you feel most energized and inspired. Set aside your mental blocks, and simply allow yourself to enjoy being nourished by nature and connected to something far greater than yourself. Often, fully immersing in nature can awaken a new sense of vitality and possibility, which will then fuel your creative endeavors.
Seek creative stimulation. Maybe you already have some ideas about what makes you feel creatively inspired. Do you walk out of music festivals or art galleries feeling alive with possibility? Maybe reading a particular author makes your soul tingle with the desire to create your own works of writing. Immerse yourself in creative environments that open your heart and mind to new ideas and ways of being. And if you find a ritual that stimulates your creative genius, make that a part of your creative process.
When are you going to write your story?