Today I spent time with a nine-step diagram in the shape of a wheel, which outlined The Hero’s Journey.
I love the hero’s journey. The fact that humans have a deeply-wired, evolutionarily-honed capacity for hearing and telling stories fills me with awe and gratitude. I love that many, many resonant stories follow the arc of a journey, challenge, transformation and wisdom.
Since I finally got the hang of reading when I was eight years old, I have adored reading stories. My favorite ones are stories of adventure (usually fantasy) and romance. Nothing is more juicy or riveting than a good story.
I discovered today that there are three circles of the hero’s journey in my business and personal evolution over the past four years!
I had no idea they would come through so clearly.
It feels good to find, or put, order to the chaos of the past four years. I like seeing cycles in my growth and progress. Yes, it’s “made up” – I’m sure there are other ways I could describe my story. I could use different formulas or paradigms, and see pieces of my past fall into place in those arcs. But I like this one.
But I wonder: does it matter to anyone beyond me? Will anyone care?
Sometimes I read an About Me page that goes on and on about what she learned and how she learned it and quirky, specific, endearing details from childhood and maybe photographic evidence, and all I can think is Idon’tcareIdon’tcareIdon’tcare. (Am I a bad person???)
From a marketing and brand-storytelling point of view, why would I tell one or all of the cycles of my hero’s journey?
Someone at the workshop cited a study that found that the brain releases dopamine when it hears a good story, and a study that people with more dopamine are more generous, therefore if you tell a good story, your audience will feel generous towards you…!
That’s one reason, though it smacks of manipulation (at some point I’ll have to write about marketing and manipulation, because I want to separate them but is it possible?). I prefer reasons that make me feel good first and foremost, especially if they also have a strategic outcome.
Such as, it makes me feel good to hear stories. When you tell me a story that resonates, I think of so many things I could talk with you about. A good story makes me feel introspective, connected, and creative. When I hear a good story I start thinking in stories. I get excited and energized!
But it’s got to be a good story at the right time. Sometimes I do not care about your About Me page. But if you’re on stage delivering a message, teaching me something thought-provoking or paradigm-shifting through your story, I’m in. (Then I might want to read your About Me page.)
I am not sure if or how my hero’s journey cycles can be that to you: a good story at the right time. They are helpful to me, for sure, but I’m not the only person in our relationship. Will they help you make sense of yourself? If you hear them, will you understand the services I offer? Will they make you feel connected and creative?
Or are they only helpful for me to make sense to myself? How do you tell if a story is good, and when its time is right??
