“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
~Philip Pullman

A few nights ago, I took the photo above – of the two books currently on my nightstand.
It pretty much encapsulated the last few weeks for me. As well as the months to come as I embark on a new creative journey.

In case you’re curious, the two books I’m currently reading are:
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
and
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

It occurred to me as I looked at the photo of these books next to each other, that there are some pretty striking similarities between the subject matter. One talks about living a wholehearted life. The other talks about the elements that go into telling a good story (for the screen).

And that got me to thinking about soul + storytelling.

To me, living a wholehearted life is about living full out. Being vulnerable, feeling feelings, practicing gratitude, embracing our imperfections and telling our story.

Somewhere along the way, as we grow into adulthood, we lose sight of our true nature. And it’s the consistent application of wholehearted principles that brings us back and gives us the courage to tell our friends and family the many stories of our life.

Believe it or not, just a year ago, I didn’t think that I had any stories worth telling.
I had spent the majority of my life telling other people’s stories.
As an admin assistant, producer, business partner, marketer and teacher.
I became a pro at helping everyone around me, tell their stories.
And yet, somehow, I was omitting the most important story of all . . . my own.

I’m curious, when was the last time you told your story?
I don’t mean the story of what you had for lunch or the story of that a-hole that cut you off in traffic earlier. I’m talking the stories that make up who you are – the story of your soul.

Does just the thought of that statement “story of your soul” seem daunting to you? I hear ya. Me too.
But by sharing bits of our story, no matter how small, we are revealing ourselves to the world. We are standing in our own power, we’re letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we really are. And we’re becoming an active participant in our lives, not just a person watching from the stands.

Here’s what I mean by telling the stories of your soul:
The other day I read an amazing post by a blogger + writer that I’ve been reading for years now. It could be said that I have a mini blogger crush on her. Tee hee.
In this post (which you can read here), she reveals her struggles with loneliness and what she’s been going through since moving to L.A.
As I read each and every word, I felt them reverberate in my heart. She was giving voice to pieces of my own story, that I hadn’t yet put into words. The pain, the uncertainty, the confusion. I could literally feel it in my stomach. I felt like she was writing MY story.
So I wrote her an email and told her so. It felt good to tell her how much the post inspired me. And now, we’re planning to meet up for coffee to talk about life, existential angst and hot chocolate (just ’cause).

That’s the funny thing about telling your story and baring your soul – it moves people. And it gives them permission to tell their own stories. As a bonus, it also creates newfound space inside of you. Space for love, creativity, new projects and new adventures. It’s cathartic AND a creativity booster. Can you say win-win?!

Do the stories we tell always have to be heavy and uber vulnerable? Not necessarily. Those are definitely not for the feint of heart. It might take time before you want to bare your soul to the world. I know it took me years before I felt comfortable talking about my struggles (and now, I can’t stop).

If you want to give it a shot but aren’t ready to over do it, a soulful story could be the tale of your daughters birth. Or that time you bought your first house. Or how you met your true love. Or why you think Tom Ford is a God (ok that might just be me). It could even be as simple as, the story of how you stumbled upon your favorite book or blog.

There are hundreds of books about how to tell a story and the essential building blocks of a good story. I’m less concerned with how to properly write or tell a story than I am with one simple little rule that often goes overlooked.

To craft a story with soul, it must be resonant for you. It has to matter. Once you have a story that you feel is worth telling, tell it. Write it. Speak it. Sing it. Draw it.

Screw the story rules and go with your gut. Trust me, it won’t steer you wrong.

When I first heard Brené say that “unused creativity is not benign“, I cried. I cried because I knew she was right. I cried because in my heart I knew that I had been burying my own story along with my creativity. And I knew it had to change.

So tell me, what story are YOU aching to tell (and/or willing to tell)?
I’d love to hear about it below. Or feel free to share any insights you got from this post.
Today, I dare you to open your heart, find your voice and use it to connect more deeply to the story inside your soul. Are you in?

xo