Why is understanding story so important?
Most people believe that stories live in the pages of books, but the most important stories in the world are hidden. They live inside us. They are created through the meaning we make of our experiences. Day by day. Moment by moment.
The stories we hold are our lens on the world. They frame what we see and who we can be as a result. They determine our agency -- our ability to take action and make impact.
Whether you see possibilities or problems, competition or potential colleagues depends on your story. Most people aren't even aware their story is in the driver's seat and they are being taken for a ride, all the while wishing desperately to go down a different road.
This happens both for individuals and systemically.
Here's the thing: We live in a story and that means we can change it.
Changing your personal story is the first step towards living the future you want. When you claim your story, you learn to trust yourself and your impact expands. You shine brighter and the world will beat a path to your door.
When we change the stories we live in collectively, at work and in the spheres we are part of -- when they are more positive and generative -- life gets better for everyone. Work becomes more fulfilling, community becomes more connected and everyone benefits.
The power of transformation lies in the stories we choose to activate. In life, at work, in society: It's time to tell a better story.
Story is all about agency -- your ability to take action. Have a listen...
The aspects of great storymaking
Telling a better story is about more than technique. If you want to lead with story, you need more than a simple list of elements. SOAR works with five core aspects to bring story to life within individuals and systems.
Together these aspects form a potent strategy. When you work with your own stories, you build personal and interpersonal capacity. When we work with stories together -- as leaders in work and life -- we increase our capacity for collective wise action.
Whatever the change you're seeking, your story -- and how you host it into life -- is the key.
What is Story Activism?
Hosting brave & transformative spaces
GET THE BOOK
Longing for a larger, more authentic life? Let 365 ALIVE! be your guide.
What's the most important story in the world? It's the one you tell yourself.
Click for more information on the book & free downloads.
More about 365 ALIVE!JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Join us at the fire & bring your story to life
THE STORY DOJO is an online community for exploring, ideating and practicing all aspects of story.
Take the 365 ALIVE! journey and see what's coming up.
More about THE STORY DOJOI'm Mary Alice & I'm a Story Activist
I've been travelling the world and going in and out of organizations, systems, communities and cultures for decades. In working with both individuals and groups, I realized STORY is the secret superpower of humanity. The stories we tell are creating the world we're living in. Every moment. Every day. Story by story.
YOUR STORY IS YOUR FOUNDATION & YOUR KEY TO THE FUTURE -- the roadmap for enabling your purpose in the world.
Your story acts as a beacon lighting the way. What most people don't realize is that you aren't stuck with the current situation -- you can make the choice to activate a better story.
I guide people longing to live a larger and more authentic life to uncover and craft the story that compels them to live that life. And I work with groups to find the stories that will bring their vision and potential into focus and action.
JUST FINDING YOUR STORY IS NOT ENOUGH, YOU NEED TO BRING IT TO LIFE -- especially if the story involves others.
Taking action to live your own story -- and working with others to help a new story take root in the world -- is vital. And there are so many stories that need changing now! I'm a great storyteller, but I'm even better at coaching people to hone the capacity to activate and empower stories to life.
How you take action, especially with others, matters. And with a story and skill, anyone can make change in themselves and in this world!
My book, my story community, the programs I offer and how I work as a Story Activist are the ways I'm making my contribution to grow our individual and collective futures.
I just love working with groups! Here's Brian Tarallo's harvest of my workshop "Change Your Story, Change the World" at the Power of Visuals Week-a-thon. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO EXPAND IT
Isn't it time to bring a new Story to life?
Check for timings
Play a Flow Game
Thirsty for answers?
CONSIDER THIS: Getting yourself to the place you want to be in your life is less about getting the right answers, and more about asking the right question
Have you ever thought to yourself that if you only had the right answer, then all of life would fall into place?
What if moving to the life you want, being the person you dream of being, unleashing the gift inside of yourself is not about answers or tools or techniques, but more about the questions you ask yourself?
When you find a question that really matters to you, it can open the door to something fresh and new. It can offer you a pathway home to yourself. It changes the sense of life happening to you, to life happening for you and through you.
A Flow Game helps you find the wisdom to take on 2024 with confidence, courage and energy.
It's the best 2.5 hours you could invest in yourself!
Interested in becoming a Flow Game Host?
I'm offering an onsite training in Denmark October 18 - 20 with Flow Game creator Toke Møller. Places are still available.
April 18 - 20
Art of Participatory Leadership training
The world we live in is no longer the same. The ways in which we used to work don’t feel fit for purpose anymore. The future we want – one of truly collaborative effort towards the greater good, and an awareness that the world needs each of us to engage more deeply – is not just incrementally different from today but rather, requires a fundamental shift in how we imagine and effect change… it is a radical transformation.
How can we grow our individual and collective capacity as changemakers to co-create spaces of transformation in these times of complexity and disruption?
Building the capacity to collaborate well with a diversity of others lies in being able to meet the moment in such a way that people stay together to create transformation.
The Art of Participatory Leadership is three day onsite training where you learn to blend and tailor a combination of methods. You deepen your practice as a changemaker with an understanding of underlying patterns of process design.
You are warmly invited to join us!
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
May 6
The Art of Powerful Questions
There's no doubt that our era carries some overwhelmingly big questions. What if there were a method to deal with big questions in a playful way?
Finding, crafting and sharpening a powerful question is a key leadership and life skill.
Simply offering a question already sets something in motion – it is the simplest intervention you can make into any system. A powerful question is a doorway into a different perspective, even a new reality.
During the morning we will take a deeper look at how to find and work with questions that matter to you. You'll take away both new insight and ways to work practically with the art of questions.
In the afternoon we'll take these questions into The Flow Game and practice being Wisdom Council for each other. You'll gain a new perspective on what matters most and experience what it can be like when everyone you meet is actively on your success team.
This workshop will take place in English, with German translation available
Innsbruck, Austria
Download your free chapter!
Wondering how story can impact democracy and governance?
"I turned to Mary Alice for support in a critical time in my work to successfully navigate a difficult merger and rebuild the team. I consider the coaching and support key factors in the success of this project. Her warm and wise presence by my side empowered me and impacted the entire organization with lasting results."
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Nora Ganescu
Consultant & coach, Slovakia
"Mary Alice has been a guide on our journey of service transformation in different ways over seven years. She brings crisp clarity, sharp focus, deep wisdom and a collection of stories that create space for potent conversations and insights."
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Penny Hamilton
Fromer Strategic Partnerships Manager, Uniting Care, Queensland, Australia
"Mary Alice has the sort of grounded presence that can hold a group of any size. I experienced her leading one of the best conferences I've attended. Many people are competent and skilled. Mary Alice has that extra spark that makes her truly inspirational."
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David Sibbet
Founder, The Grove Consultants International, USA