Tips For Sharing Your Story
"Stories Give Color To Black And White Information."- Todd Stocker
Storytelling is an ancient art that dates back thousands of years. Good stories are remembered and shared amongst people. At the heart of any story is the sharing of information and making a connection whether it's with an audience of one or one thousand.
Pursuing your God-inspired dreams requires you to share your story. But what is your story? What type of information would you share with someone if you were to tell them the story behind your dreams?
One thing I have learned is that those different angles will eventually be shared with someone. Every time we tell our story, it may be a little different than the time before. Being able to discern the moment you are in will dictate what part of the story is told. For example, what you tell your mentor may involve more details than when you are speaking to an audience of 100.
Why Telling Your Story Is Important
When we tell our story we:
- Become more grounded and clearer about our dreams. The more you share, the better you will be able to articulate the dream and the decisions behind pursuing it.
- Develop a community of support. Becoming a dream maker requires having people who get what you are doing, who are willing to support you and want to go along with you on your journey. In order for people to become a member of the community, they need to understand what your dream is and how they can be a part of it.
- Connect to the people who will benefit from the dream. God inspired dreams are about serving others. The people who you are called to serve will need to know who you are and how what you are doing is going to make a difference in their lives.
Know Your Story
Before you can share your story with others, you first must know it for yourself. A good way to begin is to spend time journal writing. The act of writing things on paper helps to create clarity in your story and takes it from the abstract (in your mind) to the concrete (seeing it on paper).
Below are some journal prompts to get you started:
- What is my God inspired dream?
- What is the 'why' behind my dream? Why am I pursuing it?
- Who are the people that I will help by pursuing my dream?
- What feelings do I experience when I think about my dream?
- What would I want people to know most about me as it pertains to my dream?
Telling The Story
Here are some tips I have discovered about storytelling:
- Be authentic and true. Don't try to be someone else. Always come from a place of truth and integrity when sharing your story. People connect with people who are real.
- Share your feelings. It's okay to be vulnerable in your story. Talk about fears, challenges or any shortcomings you may have around following your dreams. Again, this lets people know you are real.
- Share the why behind your dream. Let people know about the dream God has placed in your heart and your reasons for pursuing it. What are some of the experiences that have influenced your dream? Talk about your gifts, talents or passions that are part of the foundation of your dream.
- Inspire Others. Sharing allows people to see themselves in your story. They can begin to believe that their dreams are possible too. You can motivate and inspire people to take action on their own dreams.
- Enter the hearts of your audience. Your story is bigger than you. Any God inspired dream is always about serving others. When sharing connect with the hearts of the listeners; spark something in them that will make a difference in their lives.
Once you have crafted your story share it with someone. Tell your story through the words in a blog, or a letter. Call someone up and tell them about this dream God has given you. Create a piece of music or a painting, take some pictures or any other way that you are led that helps you to share your story.
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