At the Non-Profit Storytelling Conference last November, I shared an important lesson about the power of your personal story. You can read the full version here. This is a quick synopsis: I believe that the story you tell yourself about the work you do, and why you do it, can greatly impact your success. This is also known as your personal story.
Many people have emailed me to ask how they can work on their own story. What a great question! I’ve wanted to offer advice on this subject for many months, and I’m delighted to say that this year I will be writing about it at least once a month.
Today I want to talk about the basic tools of understanding your personal story, and to provide you with a couple of questions to get you thinking about your story.
How To Develop Your Personal Story
Our stories are living, evolving things that change with the seasons of our lives. While this means they will not remain the same forever, it also means that you can connect with what is real for you right now. Connecting with your personal story is really the practice of being self-reflective, which is not always easy in our busy, chaotic, and stressed out lives.
What does it mean to be self-reflective? In its simplest form, being self-reflective is about asking yourself thoughtful questions so that you develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
It’s taken me several years, and many starts and stops to develop self-reflective habits that have stuck. Currently my practice of self-reflection includes journaling, walking, long and honest conversations with my partner, and meditating. My term for this practice as a whole is “being within.”
Why does being self-reflective lead you to your story? As you get into the habit of “being within” your thoughts—exploring what’s important for you and getting to know yourself on a deeper level—you will uncover the stories that you tell yourself. As you find these stories, you can explore them to see what resonates with you. Are the stories you tell yourself actually true? Sometimes our egos get the best of us and eventually, this can lead us down a path of negative self-talk.
Yes, I know this all sounds a bit mystical. Stay with me for a little longer!
Self-Reflective Practices for Storytelling
If you are interested in exploring your story, here are few questions to ponder to get you started on your personal storytelling journey. These questions were written with the intention of helping you get to the core of what really matters – your why, your values and your vision. T
Why do you do the work you do?
How do your values align with the work you do?
What is your vision for your life? How does that intersect with your work?
If you are interested in exploring your story, here are few questions to ponder. These questions were written with the intention of helping you get to the core of what really matters: your why, your values, and your vision.
Why do you do the work you do?
How do your values align with the work you do?
What is your vision for your life? How does it intersect with your work?
These are all big, meaty questions. Try picking just one question to ponder for the next week. Write in a personal journal about it. Meditate on it. Make some art to reflect what you’re thinking. As you go through the reflective process, look for recurring words, phrases, and images. These are the seeds of your personal story— your most authentic self.
