In an earlier post, I talked about how we each have a voice. Along with our voice, we each have a story. Our lives and our experiences become our story. Your story and my story can change the world.
We each experience a daily tension about our story. This tension comes from two contradictory beliefs that we each hold about ourselves.
The first belief is that our story is small. So small, in fact, that it doesn’t even matter. There is no point in working on developing our story or finding how we can communicate our story better because it just doesn’t matter. So we keep it to ourselves.
The second belief is that our story is huge and that it is all that matters. This belief is what makes us selfish at times. We think that our story is the story and it’s all that matters.
So how do you manage this tension and how can you use your story to change the world?
1. Be Yourself. We are all guilty of trying to be somebody else. When I was in the 7th grade I wanted to grow up and be Steven Curtis Chapman. Before long I realized that if people wanted to hear Steven Curtis sing they were going to put in his album not mine. I also realized that if people wanted to hear me sing they were going to put in my album and not his. You are unique and your story may resonate with different people than mine.
2. Be Real. If you aren’t people will see through you.
3. Be Humble. If you aren’t people won’t care about listening to your story.
4. Be Confident. If you aren’t you won’t tell your story.
How do you manage this tension and how are you using your story to change the world?
