Writing Your Story
It has been proposed that human cognition and intelligence advanced extremely rapidly (in evolutionary terms) is due to our language development and the use of language — potentially via the manifestation of a story or tale.
Early hominids, similar to other higher primates, already have ‘sophisticated’ enough language, that is sufficient enough to form complex social bonds, and hunting strategies, teach their young, trick each other (yes, the monkeys lie), and warn others of threats.
But the affective role of storytelling is much deeper than, planning group movements or intra-group competition for resources. The story, in its simplest form, is comprised of three critical elements: situation, issue, and resolution.
We can imagine our earliest ancestors pulling together rough syllables to express “John was starving, went to that part of the forest, and found an abundance of food”. Situation, issue, resolution.
The further implication of this fundamentally simple story is the lesson taught. That part of the forest solved John’s issue, being hungry. The voila of this lesson is by hearing this story told, I now know to go to that part of the forest when hungry.
I know.
By accepting that the story has a lesson, or meaning at all, innately requires a relation from “John” or the protagonist, and his issue, the dilemma, to the audience. That requires recognition of self.
The same self-awareness or sentience that philosophers and scientists alike have drooled, battled, and died over for centuries.
That is the birth of man’s conceptualization of self.
With the Story, being our linchpin of our understanding of our own existence — you would think that maybe we would pay more attention to the stories we are told, that we tell others, and especially the story we tell ourselves.
So what are our favorite stories?
Stories of redemption? The classical underdog? One man brings life back to a decaying world? These ring true to the fundamental human experience, derived from evolutionary pressure, cultivated through countless years of cultural formation — they sit in the seat of our souls.
And I mean that.
The stories we love, have a resonating resolution. Somebody or something conquers evil, despite the odds, and brings forth good.
We get reinforced with morality each time we watch Star Wars or Braveheart, read Harry Potter or the Bible. They teach us, guide us, and fill us with hope for a better life, and a better world. Free of Darth Vader, the British (truly), Voldemort, or Satan. A world where righteousness rules and rightful action wins each time. The universal Story tells you what to do.
So . . . umm, what should you do?
Be like Harry Potter? You’re not a wizard. Be like William Wallace? You’re not that handsome. Be like Jesus? Possibly.
All of them are magical because when stories are bigger than life, they leave greater impressions on the mind. Your Voldemort might be your boss. Your Satan might be a porn addiction. Your evil British people might be evil British people.
If the Story has a psychological implication, then the Monster needs to be equally as terrifying as the psychological experience. For example, the expression of Anxiety might be; entering into a dark part of the forest for the protagonist, but for you, that experience is reflected as the reality of your first day at a new job.
Future articles will dive deeper into that full concept (link will be placed here), but for now, let us get rooted in reality:
What to do when your story sucks? You never really engaged in a deep passion of yours. You never went on some crazy adventure. You’re no Hero. . . right? Or maybe you feel like your life on paper is not a true reflection of who you are?
That has become a new standard, a new norm. We ascribe our life values based on our resume, our income, etc.
In that world, there’s no monster to be slayed, or a princess to save. . . Right?
WRONG.
You have struggles, you have goals, you have rewards and a Path placed before you. You just need to recognize it.
And that is your beginning.
STEP ONE IN WRITING YOUR STORY:
Go to Google Docs or whichever preferred format you like to write in — physical journals are okay, but prepare to leave space for later changes.
Make 3 Different Tabs: labeled “Past”, “Present”, and “Future” (located on the left-sided toolbox in Docs)
In “Past”:
Write a minimum half a page (250 words) about your past.
Start young, like you’re writing a biography
Knock out all of the objective stuff, where you lived, what your family situation was like, etc.
Then get into the weeds of your subjective life
What kind of kid were you like? What did you want to be when you were older? What lifestyle or mental struggles did you experience?
In “Present”:
Do the same with your present circumstances (e.g. who you are, how you feel, etc)
In “Future”:
Write about who you want to be, your highest ideal, without being ridiculous. Imagine all of your hard work pays off, and you achieve your dreams.
BUT DO NOT WRITE IN ‘IF’S, WRITE AS “I will (be/do/have)”
Create a Separate Tab labeled “Journal”
Type in the date
Read Your Story
Analyze mentally, then if any thoughts stand out or seems solid, write it out in your Journal. Consider:
Does your past seem to account well for your present?
If not, maybe you skipped a few key details, and should revisit the writer’s block.
More importantly, does your present account well for your future?
If not, it is probably time to make some changes in your life. Serious changes.
What does this Story reveal about your trend, your life’s Path, is it a “good” story? Did you overcome any of the obstacles from the Past? What interferes with your ideal Future?
In future “Writing Your Story” Blogs, we will be revisiting Your Story & its Journal, so do not delete the document as we go through this self-exploration process together.
The next blog will be the next step in hashing out the relationship of our story, and how to build a constructive mental schema that will help us align the Present with our Ideal Future.
Thank you for reading, if you went through the work, congratulations on taking some time to really engage with yourself and contemplate what being you means. That is something that many people do not get the chance to do or they’re too terrified to look so closely at themselves. Good work.
