Is your story ready to be told?

At a Storytelling Masterclass in my last cohort of the World Program for Founders, we finally arrived at the share-and-grow section.

In this session, we focus on listening and peer reviewing each other's stories in an emotionally safe space, helping the storyteller grapple with the primary emotions of the narrative as well as with the catharsis that comes from saying it out loud.

My first participant that day was Rajesh (name changed).

Through his story, he lined up major life events that have shaped his life.

He listed people whose harsh words etched scares in his mind.

He pondered on some memories that went on to create limiting beliefs in his mind.

He spoke about his first rejection, which came from a girl he loved so much.

And he detailed about some battles he fought and lost.

Relationships that didn't arrive at closure.

And so on...

However, there was a problem.

His story was bitter and sad.

It was intense with pathos yet uni-dimensional in its emotional appeal.

It held others in his life guilty and responsible: parents, lovers, mentors.

And in that, he was potentially alienating a part of the audience by drawing up sides.

Here is the thing, I told him: your audience is smart. They'll have a mind of their own. What if they don't see the story from your side?

He pondered over this.

He mulled over the lines of his script.

Then he asked, what then?

I know this story was important to him.

It was the reason he started his venture. It was the problem he wanted to solve.

As an entrepreneur in the social impact space, it is important that his personal stories become a powerful mouthpiece for his brand's purpose.

"What if you could forgive these people in your story," I asked him.

"Forgive?" He asked.

"How will your story change if you did? What will you say in it so your audience sees your suffering but also your insights and maturity? So they can trust you to be neutral, fair and wise?"

Our personal life stories are immensely powerful to -

• bring us healing and
• to build an authentic personal brand.

But to do that effectively is hard work.

To go from point A to point B we have to stretch our hearts, challenge our narrative and grow our stories rich with perspectives.

It's not easy, especially with some of our stories that have strong emotions attached. We may need to spend a long time in reflection.

As we report the glimpses and slices from different parts of our lives and our brushes with different people in the process: good bad and ugly, we need to practice restrain and equanimity to some degree.

Not easy?

Don't tell that story. Tell another one!

Not all of your stories are ready to be told yet.

Some of our stories may not be ready yet, and some may feel raw. Unprocessed. Some can even need us to do inner work to make our stories wise and forgiving. First, in our hearts. Then, before the world.

It is when you evolve that people who see you trust your narrative.

Until then -

Tell the stories that you're ready with.

Those that you've processed emotionally.

Of those you've forgiven.

Of the times that helped you grow.

Become. Be.

Post Script:

Rajesh and I worked together on selected parts of his story which he found easier to work with. We brushed the narrative until the characters became good and bad, incidents became real, and emotions ripe with perspectives.

It was staged on the final Open Mic day with roaring applause and terrific impact.