325 Writing Our Own Stories
Although hard work and dedication can get you quite far in life, it helps immeasurably to have someone at your back who believes in you and inspires you to strive towards your goals and future. Our stories, though valuable, do not define us and should be used as kindling for the fires of ambition.
In this episode Sarah Elkins and Kïrsten Blake discuss the importance of how our stories shape our paths in life but most importantly how the people involved in our stories inspire and guide us to success.
Highlights
Sometimes you need to trust people to know you and perceive you in their own unique way.
The people who help you through your struggles help to define you and inspire you to grow and change, especially when dealing with an othering experience.
We don’t know where we are going until we look backwards.
We need to experience so many different things
Quotes
“I think belonging is such an important aspect of my work, and so it’s not surprising that that story was what came to mind the more I think about it because, I think it informs so much of what I do, who I became, what’s important to me. I think also having a lot of compassion for little people, you know we don’t tend to see them as little humans but they are. They’re experiencing things, they’re going through things, there’s alot going on in their head, and I think as adults it’s really important for us to remember that.”
“It all makes sense when you look backwards, but when you’re in it sometimes it doesn’t.”
“We have to be in it. And I think sometimes we avoid being in it because it can feel hard and not great, and I think we as humans want to feel good and happy and joyful. But a mantra I try to live by. I'm not always great at it, being a recovering perfectionist is “Life is in the messy.” and so we have to let things be messy sometimes in order to get to that point where we are able to look backwards.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
What stories can you look back on as early as 6, 7, 8, years old that might inform what you’re doing today? Might help you uncover a pattern, or a reason about how you feel the way you do about something, or the passion you have for something else. I am so curious, please send me a message.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Kïrsten
Kïrsten Blake is a certified Narrative Coach, facilitator, speaker, and creator & founder of Chapter BE. She works with individuals, teams, and organizations to develop a deeper sense of self-awareness in service of transformation and connection. The work includes examining internal stories in order to better connect with themselves and others, so they can tap into a more mindful, authentic state of being. Her coaching, workshops and programs have provided leaders and individuals with the opportunity, support, and space to design more connected teams, workplaces, and lives.
Be sure to check out Kïrsten’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! As well as her website Chapter Be and The Being Of A Nation!
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!