Stories Are More Than Entertainment
Ever notice how certain books and films stay in your head? That’s not just entertainment—it’s identity-shaping magic. Actual magic! As in, something happens but you cannot explain it. From fantasy lands to family tales, stories help us understand the world, others, and—most importantly—ourselves.
We Start Absorbing Stories Early
Think back to when you were little, listening to Where the Wild Things Are or The Gruffalo. Even those early tales teach us big things: like how it feels to be misunderstood, what it means to belong and what courage can look like.
Books, Shows, and Memes All Count
As we grow, we pick our own stories—books, shows, games, movies, and even the memes we share. They may seem random, but they’re shaping how we think, feel, and express ourselves. Through stories, we try on different lives: What if I were fearless like Katniss? Loyal like Samwise? Smart like Shuri? And different types of work ask us to lean into different strengths. Some of might be born with certain strengths but there’s a lot we can get good at if we’re really motivated. And that motivated can be fuelled by the stories we hold in our heads.
Family Stories Connect Us to the Past
Real-life stories matter too. Maybe it’s the tale of how your great-grandparents moved from one place to another, showing resilience and grit or the time someone in your family made poor choices that didn’t end well. These personal stories root us. They remind us that identity isn’t just who we are, but also who we come from – they can embody qualities and values that we want to live up to, or in some cases deliberately move away from. We are not our families but our families play a huge role in how we choose to shape ourselves. Like any story we can choose what to focus on and try to focus on what helps us to grow.
Stories Are Mirrors and Windows
Good stories let us see ourselves—our joys, struggles, weirdnesses, in their entirely unique mix. That’s the “mirror” part. But stories also let us see others—those whose lives are totally different from our own. That’s the “window.” And when we see both, we have amazing opportunities to grow and develop. Can you think of a story right now where you’ve seen parts of yourself? And a story with characters that you find inspiring? I can think of a number of stories that are wildly different but stick with me for different reasons.
Some Stories Challenge Us—And That’s Good
Not all stories feel safe or cozy. Some make us question things—what we believe and how we behave. That’s not a bad thing. Being challenged by a story often means it’s doing something important, helping us to think about what we find motivating and what values we prioritise in life.
You Are the Author of Your Own Story
Here’s the best part: we get to write our story. Yes, there are characters that come along, seemingly out of the blue, and plot twists we don’t see coming but how we respond is the story that only we get to write. And how we respond is influenced by the stories we pay attention to. You’re writing your own life story every day—with the things you read, the characters you love (real and fictional), and the stories you carry with you.
Your career identity is influenced by your own personal library of stories
What stories are in your mental library – the books, films, games or family legends? What influence do they have on the work you do or would like to do? What do the stories have in common? What do they say about you? How do they inspire you? Most importantly, know that you can always find more stories to add to your library that help shape and your career story.
For more on career narratives, see Mark Savickas resources on the Resources and Recommendations page here.
