Storytelling for Change Makers - part 1

What stories and messages are in your environment?

In the lead up to November's focus on storytelling for change makers, this blog poses some questions for reflection - starting with our 'external' stories, so to speak. That is, the ones we gain from, or share with others. For example:

What's the most powerful story you recall from your early years? 

What are the stories that have stopped you in your tracks... moved you...inspired you...maybe even changed the course of your life?

What stories do you tell others? About your business? About your life? About the future you want?

What's the possibility that others take away from your stories? Is it helping to create the difference you WANT to see in the world?

Captive audience at our place, listening to a good story or two. 

What stories and messages run you from the inside?

Then there are our 'internal' stories, also known as our inner voices or inner critics. 

What are the stories you tell yourself about yourself? The unintended stories and messages as well as the intended ones. The ones you think no-one else will know about you?

There is an impact to every story we tell, internally and beyond. 

For some people an overriding negative story actually runs their life. Yet in fact we can change that internal story by choosing and writing a new one. 

Restorying is recognised as a powerful process - of recalibration in a way - a process that engages with your deeper structural language and connections. 

And there are many other processes. 

In fact, storytelling is now recognised as a key strategy for fundraising organisations and many other top companies, as well as for activists, presenters and of course, traditional story tellers. Google 'storytelling conference or story telling for change and you'll find a great array of ideas.

So sit back with these blog questions, and enjoy create your own "Once upon a time ...".

Quotes to share

“It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” 
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  ―  Maya Angelou

The destiny of the world is determined less by the battles that are lost and won, and more by the stories it loves and believes in'  
-  Henry Goddard.

Share your thoughts below on 

• the role of stories
• your insights from the questions or attending the Women Howling workshop. 
  
• Any quotes you know about the role of storytelling. 

Love
Chris