My role in the Institute for Cultural Communicators involves training adults and students to be ready to speak. The most compelling reason to be ready to speak is often a deadline. The deadline for our volunteers is usually a training event we are running. So recently, a few of the adult leaders I work with have asked, “Mary, do you think I need a story?” -which translates to – Will I be asked to speak?
My go-to answer is yes, you need a story! But not for the external pressure of speaking at a conference or event. You need a story for YOU.
Why? Because whether you are aware of it or not, you are already telling yourself stories, so why not make them intentional and build a storytelling habit? Storytelling – telling stories that engage our senses and recall our highlights is a crucial skill to develop resilience. The ability to bounce back from difficult times.
When we remember something special, we are putting words to our feelings. Our stories help us recognize those times – it doesn’t always have to be happy, but they need to connect us to our emotions. Telling a story doesn’t mean that everything comes to a neat conclusion – they do not. Some of my stories are when I faced an upsetting emotion and recalled how I acted in a strong version of myself or replaying what I wished I had done. Being resilient and able to return to joy means you are ready to tell a story first to YOURSELF.
This blog is my resilience discipline – my storytelling habit. Another way I build a storytelling habit is when I begin my meetings by asking for stories that we can use to celebrate what my team has accomplished. Or when, in our family, we share stories of our day around the table or when we use storytelling prompts using a product called Chat Packs.
Want to learn more about how to build this resilience-building habit?
You can check out this podcast – The Surprising Habits of Joy-filled People, or
Join me online during a Communicators for Christ Conference to learn more about being ready to speak. I will be on the coach track looking for you. But you should know I may ask to hear your story!
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