Who is writing your story?

Is there anyone who doesn't love a good story? Whether you consume it through film, tv, books or the spoken word we all have a deep need for stories.

I was thinking about my love of theatre recently, and wondering what is it that sucks me in and gives me such joy sitting in a darkened room, watching people deliver words that are not their own?

I have loved theatre since I was a kid. I remember my first outing to a big professional show, going to the West End of London to see Jesus Christ Superstar and being completely blown away by the musical spectacle.

More recently I was at Sydney's Belvoir Street theatre watching Winyanboga Yurringa, which was completely contrasting in nature, being small and intimate in scale. This is a play about a group of 6 women gathering on country to share their experiences, and it drew me in so that I felt like I was at that campfire with those amazing women.

What is it that connects these vastly different experiences in two theatres on opposite sides of the world?

Stories

The first told me a bible story I had learnt in school but in such a new and vibrant way and the second was women sharing their stories, initially only seeing their differences and yet ultimately understanding how they are all so similar and connected despite outward appearances. Both these experiences were about sharing stories and were equally compelling.

I love to immerse myself in stories, whether it be through reading, which I also love, or theatre and film. Stories can make us laugh or cry, they can entertain us or challenge us. Seeing, reading or hearing stories about lives and characters similar to us can connect us to our community, help us find our tribe and show us that we are not alone. They help us understand ourselves when we are struggling to figure out how to interpret what is happening around us. They allow us to dream about what we might do or become, and show us possibilities.

And stories can also introduce us to characters and experiences which we have never considered before. Exposing ourselves to their stories enables us to see life through their eyes, building empathy and compassion, opening our eyes to life outside our own bubble. Hearing new stories can change our minds about things we have long believed to be true, and ultimately they can change the world around us. Society changes in response to the stories of its individuals, when they insist on being heard and we learn to listen.

How does this relate to my work you might ask?

Finding your way forward in your career and life in an intentional way requires you to delve deep into who you are and who you want to be. This means teasing out your own stories to help you understand how you got where you are now and what is most important to you. The way you have made sense of and given meaning to what has happened in the past also shapes how you see the future. Your meaning making is based on your own beliefs and assumptions, which have built up over time through your internal interpretation of earlier experiences and the responses of people around you. Once you start deconstructing these and looking at patterns which emerge you give yourself freedom to see events from new perspectives, which in turn allows you to flourish in new previously unimagined ways.

Reflection is absolutely required to build self-awareness, and we can use this exploration of our own narratives to activate our future, shifting obstacles which have held us back in the past. When we see the patterns we can disrupt them and change our trajectory, as we increase our sense of being the author of our own story.

When you consider your story ask yourself: What can I observe about myself? and then; How would I like that to be different?

As the wonderful Brene Brown says "When we have the courage to walk into our story and own it, we get to write the ending."

I love working with clients to uncover their existing stories, challenge them to see these stories from new perspectives, and support them to create new pathways forward so that they truly fulfill their potential.

Are you ready to take your leadership to a new level?

If you would like support stepping up into your next role or figuring out the next steps in your life / career or how to increase your leadership capacity please book in a discovery call with me for a confidential no-obligation chat today here or email to [email protected]

Sue runs sue rosen executive coaching and specialises in helping people unleash the power of their potential.