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“At first, it seems impossible to believe that your story – the little story of you – could possibly change the world. But let’s just dig into that for a moment. Just imagine a world in which everyone on the planet had their voice heard and their story witnessed. What would happen? My belief is that it would create so much connection, so much unity that it would be difficult to fight wars. Perhaps that’s my utopian fantasy, but on an individual scale sharing your authentic story carries an energetic ripple that affects everyone around you – and everyone around them. This ripple carries on building and you may never know how big that ripple you have started has become. Perhaps your ripple becomes a story storm that raises the vibration of the planet. Call me a dreamer, but I like that story. So yes, absolutely – the ‘small’ story of you has the potential to change the whole world.”
Beverley Glick, author of Dig for the Story in Your Soul, tells the Book Detective why she is passionate about the power of storytelling. She believes that, in this digital age, there is a need for meaningful connection and that personal storytelling can satisfy this primal need.
Beverley shares a number of her stories, such as the time that she dared ‘not to toe the line’ at junior school, to illustrate how an authentic personal story can have universal appeal and how to notice the common threads that run through your stories. She explains why the heart of your story is different to telling a story with heart, and why there really is no such thing as an ordinary life.
Once you have found the treasure buried in your story, you need to share that wisdom with others. This can be a challenge, but you are the only one who can do this. Beverley quoted Michael Margolis, founder of getstoried.com, who calls this, ‘The Long Walk Home’.
She also delved into some intriguing elements such as how to be in the space between stories, touches on neuroscience and the ways in which we are all unreliable narrators, and considered the possibility that if we slowed down and were truly present in each moment we might be able to write our own story as we are living it.
Ultimately her overriding message is that stories can change the world, and she shares this wonderful quote from Christina Baldwin author of Storycatcher, ‘We require story in order to link our lives with each other. Story couples our experiences, mind to mind and heart to heart. Story is the electro-magnetic conductor that brings us close enough together…to see that another person is a variation of ourselves.’
The final question in Beverley’s book is ‘Can you allow yourself to believe in the power of your story?’ If listening to her has inspired you to uncover your own story, then why not find out more about her and her book. And, if you like the idea of listening to others tell their stories, or even of standing up and telling your own, then you can do that at The Story Party.
The story of You has the potential to change the world. Listen in to @IDigStories Click To Tweet
WOW ladies what a wonderful conversation, thank you.
There are so many nuggets in here I don’t know what to say (apart from I’ll definitely be listening again).
One theme which resonated with me was that our untold stories harm us (not sure that’s the word you used, but it was the essence), and often we don’t tell them because there’s shame attached which we need to heal. And once we’ve done the healing work we are able to tell that story in a safe place.
And doing this enables us to know, deep inside that we had that experience for a reason.
I also don’t have children and yes, my story is my legacy too.
And as one of the other women in the room when the lady told the story about her Dad, it was beautiful and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Lesley x
Hi Lesley, Thank you for taking the time to comment – much appreciated. I’m delighted you enjoyed it. As you say, your story is your legacy, and if we are willing to go to that vulnerable place within and work through them, then we can share our wisdom to help and inspire others. Leda x