How to Tell Better Stories and Live a More Meaningful Life
Humans are completely immersed in stories. We think in stories and craft our identities by creating a “life narrative”. Our Self is largely made up by a narrative of past, present, and future stories.
The story we tell ourselves then better be one worth living. Our life is a story.
Stories are not only important for understanding our own life. We are met with stories everywhere we look. In movies, ads, and conversations with other people.
Storytelling can be learned, and we can use it both as a way to influence our world and to create a healthy life-story of our own.
Homework for life
Matthew Dicks, the author of Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling recommends a practice called “Homework for Life”, that can both develop your storytelling abilities, and create deeper meaning in your life.
In his own words it is:
A strategy you can use to slow down time, find greater meaning in your life, and give your future self one of the best gifts imaginable. And if you’re a storyteller — on the stage or at the dinner table — there is an immeasurable bonus.
Good stories are everywhere, we just have to notice them. Take our own life for example: most of our days are mundane; the same routine over and over. This isn’t the first place we search for a good story. We believe our greatest stories will come from big events.
The purpose of “Homework for Life” is to notice that our life is already full of good stories. Some of our best memories and stories come from seemingly insignificant events, but the stories resonate with others because of it.
Begin to see that what you thought was mundane, the same routine, contains meaning and stories worth telling.
Notice your life
Every night before bed, sit down and recollect your day. If you had to write a five-minute story about your day, what would it be like? What part of your day, what moment is the most story-worthy?
Note the date and write down your story of the day. It doesn’t have to be a full five-minute story, only keywords that describe the most storyworthy moment.
As you think of a story each day, you’ll develop a filter for finding meaningful stories in everyday life. Additionally, you’ll have greater memories of these moments, and you’ll find it easier to tell a good story at a moment’s notice.
The stories you tell — stories from everyday life — people will resonate with. You will have a buffer of stories from your life, to which you can go back to and relive at the turn of a page.
You start to see that there is more meaning in your life than you thought.
It’s the small moments that make for great stories
— Matthew Dicks
It’s not going to happen at once. The lens through which you see the world needs some time to develop. But once it does, time slows down: You notice what’s important in your life. You become aware of yourself and your story.
What moments are story-worthy in your own life? Will your life be one of great meaning, memories and engaging stories?
Write down a few sentences from each day, collect memories, and always be ready to deliver a great story.
Notice your story. Find meaning in your life. You’ll see that you are part of something more.
