What's Your Story?

Is your story an open book or a mystery?

We're all telling a story with our lives. Your story can be one of victory, where the battle scars you carry are not a source of shame but a reminder of what you have overcome. Your story can also be one of defeat. The same battle scars that remind one of their victories can keep another in a prison of shame and condemnation. Why does your story matter more today than ever? Because we are living in a time of unrest and high anxiety where society can appear to be coming apart at the seams. In my business blog I talk A LOT about the BANI world that sociologists use to describe the current world climate (BANI =Brittle, Anxiety-Producing, Non-Linear and Incomprehensible).

Your story can be a testament to the stability of God in a topsy turvy world, or a refrain to everything that can go wrong. I think of David's explanation to Saul of why he was the one to kill a giant: he had faced and killed intimidating enemies before (lion and bear). There was an army afraid of the giant, but David's story was one of having to face enemies alone. While there may be parts you would rather not have experienced, when viewed as part of the whole story the scars will give clues to the uniqueness of your life's calling. You don't get in battle with a bear and a lion without coming away with scars. Look at your scars. Yes, acknowledge the pain but find a way to see the strength that came from the fight. 

David's motive in killing the lion and bear was to protect the sheep that had been entrusted to him. His motive in telling Saul the story was to convince a skeptical king that he, David, wasn't afraid to go up against a fearsome enemy. Think about your motive in framing and telling the story you tell yourself. Is that motive to change the parts of your story that you don't like? Are you telling yourself the truth, or a version of the truth that someone has told you about you? The motive of the storyteller determines the integrity of the story. In my book, Consider The Possibilities: Doing What Matters Most, I talk about something called the unreliable narrator. This is someone in a drama who either intentionally or unknowingly narrates untruth. Don't be the unreliable narrator in your story; take the time to sit with what is motivating your version of the story you are telling about you. If you need help, find a coach, therapist or a friend.

Finally, look for the clues in your behavior. Saul tried to put his armor on David, but it didn't work well; that wasn't how he had fought in the past. David was effective at that time with the tools he was accustomed to: rocks and a sling. While there are a lot of things I know how to do, in times of pressure, I look for elements that will tell a better story. That's not a fluke -- it's part of what I am created to do.

Why does understanding your patterns matter? Because your unique way of solving problems is part of your story. As you get comfortable with YOUR STORY, what looked like hindrances start to look like innovative ways to solve problems.

The best part of understanding your story, though, is that you will discover the very tools you need to solve your dilemmas are in your hands. Start investigating now to discover your real story: the world is waiting.

You are loved,

Michele

PS: My latest 'problem-solving' story is a fiction work that points to a better reality. 2200: A Story For The Times is now available at Amazon, or wherever books are sold, or right here: