Storytelling Is Your Superpower
It's Time to Take Some Responsibility
Do You Know How Powerful You Are?
Did you know that you have a superpower that gives you the ability to create and destroy worlds?
Yes. You! You are superhero (or a supervillain) waiting to emerge. But you may not know it yet. And that's why I'm here—to point you toward higher IDEALS.
Because whether you think of yourself as one or not, you are a storyteller—and that is a superpower. And as Uncle Ben (or Aunt May depending on which version of the multiverse you're referencing) said to Peter Parker/Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Now I know you might be thinking to yourself, “I’m not a storyteller.” Well, just that thought alone is a story
Humans are storytelling creatures, and we cannot stop ourselves. Whether it’s verbal, through our bodies, or even in what we choose not to say or express, we’re constantly putting out stories. And those stories shape our world.
Think of all the arguments you’ve been in. Why? Because of stories. Often, conflicting stories. We go back and forth about how something happened, what didn’t happen, or what should’ve happened. And all of those are stories. Why do you think some of us lie? Why do you think some of us exaggerate? It’s because we want our stories to be believed—even when we’re lying!
A friend once told me that we listen ourselves into being. When someone on the other side hears you, you feel like you exist more. In other words, if they listen to your stories, then your life seems more real, more substantive. If your stories are ignored, it’s like you exist that much less. Well, we have that same power as well.
The ancient writers understood this too. In Proverbs 18:21, it says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Our words don’t just describe the world—they shape it. They breathe life into people, communities, and futures—or they diminish them. That’s the level of responsibility that comes with your superpower.
In the video below, I walk people through the kinds of stories we tell. The way I frame them is: stories that serve and stories that sever. That is your power. Do you want to create stories that serve humanity and help us live into our highest capacities? Or do you want to keep telling stories that sever us from one another? The stories that tell us who we can’t be, who someone else isn’t, and all the other narratives we pass on that diminish our capacity, reduce our imaginative possibilities, and—quite frankly—limit us to what has been instead of inviting us into what can be?
In future posts, I’m going to be speaking a lot more about futuring and what it means to ground ourselves and the stories we tell in the future that we want to bring about. Stay tuned for those. And in the meantime, bear witness to the stories that you transmit and the stories that you receive throughout the day—because everything you see around you is a reflection of those stories.
(In this video, I expand on how the stories we tell either widen the circle of belonging or reinforce division. You might find language in it that deepens your understanding of your own storytelling power.)
If you're interested in additional content to invite you into a deeper relationship with the person you know you are or join me in a conversation, visit Higher Up Consulting, connect with me on Linkedin, or join my Substack as a free of paid member.
Special thanks to Piper Hendricks of Stories Change Power for having me as their guest.