6 Reasons Why Telling a Better Story Increases Your Chances of Success
We all have a story.Â
Does your story contribute to your chances of success?
Some of us come from poor families, others from well-off families.
We come from a mix of races- Asian, African, European or otherwise.
We might live near the place where we were born, or we might live half a world away from it.
Some of us are young. Others are old.
We have different interests and various talents.
We are all people. And all have a story.
Our stories are all different, but they all shape who we are.
Some stories are painful, others happy. Most of us have more than our fair share of either.
What does your story tell you?
Do you linger on the painful memories, or the happy ones? Are you optimistic, pessimistic or realistic?
What if I told you that your story didn’t matter, at least not as much as you think it does, but that what you believed about your story meant everything.
How is someone who appears to have everything miserable? How is it that someone with nothing can appear to be the happiest person in the world?
It’s all about the story you tell yourself.
Does your story empower you to make change happen? To live life to the fullest? Does it give you better chances of success?
Or does it leave you justifying your poor behavior? Explaining why nothing ever works out for you?
Is your story serving your needs? If not, it’s time for change.
Only you can make the change in your life you so desperately seek. It’s not about perfect opportunities or good luck. Those things can certainly shape our lives and change it, but it doesn’t start there.
It starts with the spark that exists inside each one of us.
Why does your story matter?
It empowers you to make change happen
What you tell yourself matters because it will either defeat you or give you the strength to keep fighting for your dreams.
It gives you a healthier, happier outlook on life
Assuming your story is working for you (and it should), then it gives you a more optimistic outlook on life. Optimistic people are more likely to seek out opportunities. After all, what pessimist looks for something that they know will never work out in their favor?
It gives you a more magnetic personality and pulls people to you
People are drawn to people with charisma and a positive outlook on life. It’s more appealing and it looks good on someone. Not only that, but it’s helpful in the job interview process (check out how to interview like a pro if you’re looking for tips to ace your next interview).
It provides grit when the going gets tough
Life has its ups… and its downs. Depending on what your story tells you, you might believe the downs are temporary, or you might believe they will last forever. Grit comes from those that can deal with a difficult situation, and know that it will eventually change for the better.
It increases your lifespan and therefore enables you to accomplish more in your life
Optimists live longer and healthier lives according to a study by Reuters. They are more vibrant and can accomplish more in their longer lifespans.
It gives you more energy to get through the day and accomplish more
Have you ever compared your energy levels on a good day to a bad day? Have you ever reflected more deeply on your behavior and actions on a good mindset vs. a bad mindset? Chances are, your motivation to accomplish day-to-day tasks probably wasn’t as good on your “bad” day.
Feeling good about where you are in your life and where its headed can propel you forward to accomplish more. And in accomplishing more you can achieve even more in your longer life!
Deeper thoughts
Is your story helping you do more in your life? Or is it time for change?