Tell your story! It's yours to tell!

Everyone, regardless of race, status, age, philosophical tilt or gender, has a story to tell. You are the central character in this real-life play; you are the only one who can tell it as it is. Life is fleeting and only the wisest people know how to dig their fingers into the fabrics of time.

In life, people share common features, such as family, careers, dreams, loss, or triumph. Some people’s annual vacation might include an international trip while another group might settle for a local getaway. In either cases, both groups would still have varying experiences regardless of the similarities.

What’s your own story? It’s not just about where you grew up, went to school or even got your first job; there is much more to your life than these statistics. Over a decade of working with various clients on biography matters, our greatest challenge has been trying to paint a picture of the Biographee’s life because he didn’t do it himself while present. Basic information can be found over the internet or even during discussion with close family members but no one can authoritatively declare the Biographee’s perspective on his or her behalf.

What narrative have you constructed from the events of your life? Do you even know that this is the single most important question you can ask yourself? According to the fascinating field of ‘narrative psychology’, the stories we tell about ourselves are the key to our well-being.

If you have interpreted the events of your life to mean that you are unlucky or unwise, it’s hard to look optimistically at the future. Conversely, if you acknowledge that you have made mistakes and faced difficulties but seek (or have already glimpsed) redemption, you will feel a much greater sense of control over your life. That time you were laid off, for example, is it further proof that your career’s going nowhere? Or is it the best thing that ever happened, liberating you to find work that suits you better? What about a broken relationship? Is it a sign you are unlucky in love or a difficult passage to a more hopeful romance?

The idea is not to delude yourself that bad things are actually good. It is instead, to find meaning in the progression from one event to the next. It is to recognize that everything constantly changes in your life; you will move from triumph to heartbreak to boredom and back again, sometimes in the space of a single day. What are you to make of so many emotions, so many events? The facts matter less than the narrative.

Our stories are everything. They are the heart of love and of meaning. So what is your story? Tell your story so your friends and family would hear them. Tell your story yourself, and make sure you tell the right one.

If you are having trouble constructing an honest, yet positive, life narrative, just ask yourself these three things; can you think of an early part in your life when you felt strong and happy? If you had a difficult childhood or other challenges that prevent you from identifying this starting place, try thinking of the time when you were still cradled in the womb. What was the challenge, or series of challenges, that came along to threaten your strength and peace? Can you find meaning in these challenges? You don’t need a classic happy ending as long as you have found meaning. And don’t worry if you’re not there yet. Just think of the outcome you would like to see one day. And remember the words of mythologist, Joseph Campbell, “Where you stumble is where your treasure lies.”

Making a choice to work on your biography is not a death sentence as many people think. Writing a captivating autobiography, for the sake of posterity, does not have to be a boring affair or one left for people on their death beds. Life is short and time waits for no man, so we must all be committed to preserving our legacies and stamping our footprints on the sands of time.

Are you in the first half of your life? We never consider anyone as too young to talk about their stories. Once you have overcome challenges, learnt crucial lessons and have probably found another way to get things done, no matter your age, it becomes pertinent that you document these things. There are even people whose life draw its substance from experiences of other people, researches conducted or even pieces of advice from numerous Sages.

Are you past the first half and are well into the second half? Now is the best time to talk about years back, while the benefits of memory abound. Do you think you are playing extra time? Well, better late than never.

We must constantly celebrate the living, now, instead of waiting to build monuments of the past. Want to share your story? We would love to hear them! We look forward to working with you!

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