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Storytelling leads to self-awareness & self-discovery. Yet there is no hurry to tell our stories to the world till we are ready. If there are uncomfortable parts, write them in a personal diary. We go through 5 stages of life before we are ready to share our story with the world without feeling uncomfortable:- 1) Finding your story- Understanding & connecting dots of life to find your gift / deep passion. The journey begins. You find your essence/ core. 2) Reconciliation- Acceptance or coming to terms with our story & seeing villains as lessons. Leads to acceptance & inner peace. 3) Sensemaking - Resolving inner conflicts & finding deeper meaning. You find answers to "Why me?" Your story makes sense to you. 4) Healing-Healing our baggage & emotional wounds. Letting go of the past. Preparing to embrace our future. 5) Self-awareness-Finding your voice, identity and inner confidence. Deeper understanding of who you are. Which experiences have shaped you? ...

Some life skills help you become a much better storyteller. On the other hand, storytelling teaches you some precious life skills. a) Observation Skills A keen  observatio n  makes you a good  storyteller . Observe people around you, observe your environment & you will find inspiration for stories. b)  Listening  Skills When you listen to people deeply, more people will come forward to share their stories. Stories build bonds c) Empathy Good stories create empathy. Empathy creates great stories. Stories which evoke  empathy  also make a strong emotional connect with audience Good  storytelling  helps you develop these life skills in turn:- a) Public speaking Best public speakers are good storytellers. Art of narration & voice modulation helps in mastering  public speaking b)  Leadership  Skills Storytelling is a powerful tool for persuasion. No wonder good storytelling skills help you become a better leader c) Wisdom fo...

Mini Stories on Wisdom Have you arrived?" "How will I come to know that I have arrived and achieved success?", he asked the coach. " When you develop the courage to laugh at yourself. When your confidence begins to exceed your inferiority complexes, you have arrived in the true sense", the coach answered. ------------------------- "Just Few Friends" "The saying goes, 'Even if you have a thousand friends, you have not a friend to spare. Even if you have a single enemy you will meet him everywhere' Don't you think you have very few friends?", he asked her. "True. I am different with a story of my own. I can only connect with people if I trust them enough to tell my story. And they care enough to listen to it. And I believe you need few friends and many acquaintances", she had a surprising clarity about what she wanted in life. ------------------------ "Heart Walls" "She is such an un...

"Of Lights and Stars" "Oh WOW you look so soulful in this photo as if", he said and paused. He liked creating mystery and suspense. "Ahaan as if what", she sounded restless for sure. Nothing troubles a woman as much as an incomplete compliment does. "As if you are not made up of flesh and blood. As if you are made up of lights and stars", he continued. "You know the art of complimenting so very well", she replied shyly. Brimming with joy inside. Trying hard to hide her smile outside. ----------------------------- Sweeter than Solitude "It seems every handsome hunk already has a girlfriend and every beautiful girl already has a boyfriend. I am the only idiot around who is single", she told her cousin. "You know you can never find the right relationship under peer pressure and competition. You first have to love yourself and then find someone who is sweeter than your solitude. Someone who...

Mini Stories on Wisdom and Love Generosity is Yoga "Do you think generosity is rewarded? I see selfish people succeeding all around me and not the ones with "giving attitude"", she asked him. "Yes generosity is rewarded. But the Universe decides when and how. One cannot be generous and then expect immediate rewards. Generosity is yoga, an exercise in patience with invisible benefits. No wonder it is not everybody's cup of tea", he replied. "Tell me one benefit that you have received by being generous", she continued her interrogation. "Generous people are always sought after as friends, colleagues, partners and so on. They don't need to chase relationships and rather pull people. That has been my benefit and has boosted my self respect too", he replied. "And reward.....yes it comes as a surprise at an unexpected time", he added as an afterthought. ------------------------- More stories than you can e...

Mini Stories on Wisdom and Love The Enlightened Girl He looked at the photo once again. The shot was magical. Or was she the magic in it? She was standing against a dark background and all the light of the camera was falling on her face. And with that magnificent aura, she simply looked "Enlightened". Will she hold his hand and lead him into the light or he needs to undertake this journey alone once again? He was lost in a clutter of thoughts and then his heart whispered, "Yes, she is a true seeker and one day they would walk together into the light". He had discovered the "secret" after a long journey. Yes, desires lead you to light, to enlightenment. Actually keen desire leads to heartfelt prayer and heartfelt prayer leads to enlightenment. Interestingly, she had become his reason for heartfelt prayers. Will they both walk into light together remained a question still? She had her demons and her dark side too. But then having a sh...

Mini Stories on Wisdom and Life “What moves us... does the magic" "I meditated for one hour yesterday. But I found no peace. My mind is still cluttered with thoughts. How do I find peace and magic you talk about?” she asked him. "I will tell you a new way of meditation, "Love meditation". It is simple. Just take few pictures of someone you wholeheartedly love, your nephew for example. Look at the pics with love and smile at them. Get completely absorbed in the moments you have spent together. Feel love and peace entering each cell of your body. And you will find more than peace. You will find magic and Nirvana.” he replied. "Is it that simple?” she asked. "Yes. And sometimes you can look at our pictures too if you are not scared of falling in love with me once again", he joked. --------------------------------  "Look like an Angel" "Light fluorescent colours suit you the most. You look absolutely...

Storytelling is an art which has the backing of science, neuroscience to be precise. All that we remember from our childhood are stories (incidents /anecdotes). As soon as the word ‘story’ comes, even our tired brain gets alert ready to listen and retains it in memory. Even at the end of a working day, when we are too tired to scan data, we are still willing to read a story. What makes stories so powerful? Here are the 7 reasons from neuroscience:- 1) The Shared Experience and Neural Coupling The listeners connect to the story through their own ideas and experiences because of neural coupling process. Hence a story connects most with the reader when a story or its parts makes the reader feel that it is his / her story. We relate and relive the sensations described in the story, be it fear, pleasure, guilt and so on, creating a shared experience between the story narrator and audience. When we hear a story, we try to relate it to one of our existing life experiences. Dur...

 Mini Stories on Wisdom Good people, Best people The disciple asks, "Master what is the reward of being a good human being? People have endless expectations from you, they often become posessive and you usually end up getting hurt and used." The master replies, "Yes good people live life fully and painfully. Good people are like trees with fruits and stones are thrown only at trees filled with fruits. So do you want to avoid being vulnerable by becoming a selfish person?" The disciple replies, "No master. I am actually confused and need your guidance." The master continues, "Good people are vulnerable, and best people are deeply hurt. Good people are wounded and best people are often destroyed internally. Yet best people also meet human angels very often and live life's most amazing moments." The master advises, "You need to take a decision based on how much risk you can take and absorb. You can choose to be a best yet vulnerab...

How Your Network & Other People Display "Pride of Association"? Nothing succeeds like success does and when people start developing pride in associating with you, one is ready for mega success and an inspiring story One of my favourite phrases in inspirational storytelling / digital storytelling is "The Pride of Association". If we have genuine professional achievements, people around us naturally develop pride of associating with us, over a period of time. Now the question arises, how do people demonstrate pride of association in real life. Five major types of professional pride come to my mind immediately viz. pride of being interviewed, pride of collaboration, pride in our mentors, pride in our clients and pride of knowing an achiever. In personal life also, sometimes we may have pride of belonging to a certain family. A) Pride of Being Interviewed Here are some examples of how authors and speakers across the world, talk with pride about their inte...