It is in these two primary elements that stories accomplish their function: they show us how we too can respond to the challenges in our lives, and they share some sort of lesson about the changes we too can make through our lives. 

Beyond entertainment, a story that tends to stick with us when we close the book or leave the theater resonates with our personal experience on some level. 

This is why epic sagas like Lord of the Rings have withstood the test of time – the series showcases the value of small and powerful characters in chaotic, threatening, and overwhelming circumstances – when Frodo and Sam succeed in destroying the One Ring, we also feel like we can succeed in overcoming dark forces in our own lives. 

On the other hand, a genre like horror demonstrates how some transformations aren’t for the “best”. Many horror films or books leave us with an example of what our life would look like if we gave into fear, our “dark side”, or greed. In some cases, the protagonists may triumph in that one battle, but in others, we are left with a lingering sense that the darkness can never be truly vanquished, and it is always lingering, waiting for another opportunity to emerge. 

When you watch a movie or read a book, how do you feel at the end? Hopeful? Despairing? Unsettled? Pleased? 

How might your reaction to a story be different from those around you? 

Some people find the horror genre comforting, others find it deeply unsettling. What does this say about each person? 

I raise these questions because the stories we resonate with can provide clues to how we feel about ourselves, the stories we are consistently telling about ourselves, and the stories we wish we were telling about ourselves. 

Returning to the horror example, someone who loves horror movies and finds them empowering may have struggled through many challenges themselves. They may see themselves reflected in the narrative elements of the story and see their triumphs. Someone who is made uncomfortable by the horror genre, on the other hand, might be scared of the darkness within them or may feel powerless about the external forces in the world.

Similarly, when reading a romance novel, are you disgusted by the love the characters show for each other? Wishful? Who do you tend to judge most in the book? Who do you resonate with most deeply? 

The stories we consume, whether they are in film, written, or spoken format, are a mirror of ourselves. And because they are a mirror, they are an incredibly useful tool for understanding the stories we are telling about ourselves. 

The Narrative Mirror

In my own life, I have always loved the fantasy genre. I loved stories about seemingly “normal” or “powerless” characters who were able to overcome massive odds. I resonated with the outsider, whose gifts could help them see a problem differently, and whose different perspectives made solving that problem possible. 

Why? 

Because I saw a lot of myself in those characters. 

Sure, I will never be Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games (I’ve released my dream of becoming an archery expert), but her story showed me what it meant to be persistent, to love deeply, to make choices about the future I want, and the lead with authenticity. 

In my own life, her story continually re-emerges as an example of what it means to fight to transform society, to see alternatives to existing power structures, and to be brave enough to go into cycles of transformation. She also taught me how important it is to work together with folks of different skill sets, backgrounds, and priorities – we don’t need to be “the same” to work towards the same goal, and in fact, it is our differences that create our strength even as they create tension. 

As a character who was forced into traumatic circumstances, Katniss also showcased how difficult it can be to face mental illnesses like PTSD, and how choosing to live a life of happiness in spite of the pain and loss experienced isn’t always the easy choice but a choice we can still make. 

Her story, written beautifully by author Suzanne Collins, is an amazing example of how the narratives we choose to live in can shape the direction our life will grow. 

At any point in her story, she could have chosen to give up, she could have chosen to let the powerful forces in the story overcome her will, she could have chosen to run, or she could have chosen to give into the pain and desire for revenge. 

Some may say, “Well, if she did, it wouldn’t have been nearly as successful of a story – so why would she? It’s fake. The author made the choices for her. It’s not the same.”

What those people don’t understand is stories like The Hunger Games are written from a place of strong characterization and a deep understanding of the choices that character makes. The way Suzanne Collins created Katniss Everdeen, Katniss could never have made any other choices than the ones she did. It is because of the choices that she made – that she can never unmake – that we remember Katniss as the strong, inspirational, and human character that she is. 

We are all the authors of our own story. Each choice we make contributes to where we end up when the narrative “ends”. 

Writing a strong story for ourselves, like Suzanne Collins did for Katniss, means crafting an understanding of the character we want to be and making choices in alignment with that character. 

We can use the characters in stories to better understand ourselves, our desires, our values, and who we want to be. Maybe that means being a little more like Katniss, Sam and Frodo, or Captain Marvel. It can also mean learning to embody “darker” traits, such as we see with Maleficent in Disney’s live-action movie. 

These stories can also give us an indication of where making certain choices may influence our growth. Maybe you want to end up where your favourite character ends up in the final act, or maybe you want to avoid a certain “evolution” in your own character. These are indications as to the kinds of choices you should be making in your own life. 

And chances are, if a choice doesn’t make sense to you or where the character ends up in the narrative feels wrong, then that choice either isn’t for you or you know it’ll lead you down a different path in your own story. 

Ultimately, using stories as a mirror for our own decisions is a very similar tool to shadow work, Tarot, or even journalling prompts, but in many ways, it is a much more accessible and diverse tool than others provided. 

Stories, parables, and folklore are all around us to share lessons and growth, if we are willing to see them as more than just entertainment. 

Using Narrative As A Base For Strategic Planning

Beyond a sense of individual growth or using stories to mirror our inner desires and pathways, the narrative we choose to tell ourselves in our day-to-day lives affects the decisions we make. 

In this instance, narrative and perception are very similar. If you are telling yourself a story that the person who cut in front of you on your drive to work is a jerk who doesn’t care about anyone but themselves, it is just a story. Another story we can tell is that they overslept, didn’t get their coffee, and sure they are driving recklessly and rudely, but it doesn’t define them as a person. 

When we change our perception of a circumstance or an event, we can shift our emotions around that event. Our emotions are huge drivers of behaviour, and our behaviour is the actions of our choices. 

In the first story, we may have chosen to start cussing or laying on the horn. In the second story, we might roll our eyes but otherwise move on with our lives. 

Which person is the calmer driver? Which person goes on to have a brighter day? 

In this one small circumstance, you may say “What does it matter if I lay on my horn? They deserved it for almost causing an accident, and besides, it doesn’t impact the rest of my life.”

Maybe you’re right. 

But in each choice and each story we tell ourselves, we are rewiring our brain to take actions aligned with that story. 

Over time, assuming the worst about a stranger will make us see all strangers as the worst version of themselves. Our threshold for who deserves our road rage becomes lower and lower over time, and that perception continues to expand off the road too. We become more easily irritated by mistakes at the office, in our coffee order, and the actions of our children. 

In my experience, I have never met an easily enraged driver who was otherwise completely unbothered elsewhere in their life. That short temper and exaggerated reaction consistently appeared in every other area of their life as well, and whether they realized it or not, they were pretty unhappy. 

To continue with this metaphor, if we want to live a calm and happy life – if we want the narrative around us to be about how level-headed we are – what choices would we make instead? 

This is on an individual level, but the stories we want to tell about ourselves are equally relevant to organizational decisions as well because our choices and actions speak much louder than the slogans plastered on workplace walls and values promoted on our website. 

In a story, we can tell when a character is lying to themselves about themselves based on the choices they make. This is the “tough” character who runs away from the first sign of danger, or the “bad guy” who shows unexpected tenderness and mercy. Customers and employees can also sniff out when an organization claims to be one way but is acting entirely opposed to their supposed values and narrative. 

Using narrative as a base for strategic planning ensures an authentic carry-through of your organization’s values and goals through the challenges and obstacles that may crop up. By consistently acting in alignment with the narrative you are sharing about your organization, you are creating a strong sense of authenticity, reliability, and truth regarding the ethical character of your company. 

If your organization is committing on paper to a Reconciliation Action Plan or inclusivity, what actions are being implemented to align with this narrative? 

In a time when chaos is the only constant, organizations showing up as authentic versions of themselves is key not only to their long-term success but also to their customers and clients who rely on their services. 

Every Story Needs Someone To Tell It

Stories are a driver for transformation. A significant part of successful activism, advocacy, and allyship centers around listening, celebrating, and uplifting the stories that existing powers would rather silence. These are the stories of resilience and wisdom, the stories of suffering, the stories that tell us that things can and should be different.

When one narrative is consistently pushed, we need to seek out the stories that are being silenced. Why? Because these stories challenge the existing paradigm and remind us of the vastly diverse experiences that exist among us. 

At Vibrant Systems, my understanding of narrative and stories makes me an excellent storyteller. My extensive wraparound services, including 1-on-1 Coaching, Value Integration & Exploration, Strategic Planning, and Evaluation, all build on this idea of sharing your story and making choices in alignment with that story. 

Because as humans, we love a good story. Being able to tell yours and use that narrative to continue to write a story that is authentic to you, is a key part of attracting loyal customers and clients through the changes and obstacles that are constantly appearing. Stories are a driver of transformation and a guiding compass through chaos. They are a means of celebrating our diversity and our shared dreams, strengths, and successes.

Whether you own a small business, operate a non-profit, or are a prominent member of a larger organization, the value of a good story is never diminished. 

Reach out for a quote today, and let’s make your story a vibrant one.