If I had to pick one skill to master, I think storytelling would be a close contender for the top spot. Stories are how we organize our experiences in the world and how we make sense of events that have happened to us. But they’re also important for many other reasons you probably never considered.
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Suffering and adversity are bad things and should be avoided at all costs. At least this is what any rational person would say. No one goes out into the world asking themselves how to make their lives miserable.
But it’s hard to deny that overcoming hardship is often seen as a big inspiration for famous actors, writers and comedians. For some reason, they credit their talents to the difficulties they went through. But how much does hardship really matter?
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I’ve never really liked the phrase, “rules are meant to be broken”. Why bother having any at all if everyone is just going to ignore them? I know what it’s implying though. Sometimes it’s better to let go of what you’ve been told and just see what happens.
In fact, I think that if I could go back in time and deliver one message to my younger self it would probably be about breaking the rules. I would make sure my younger self realized that not all rules are equal. Some rules can and should be broken.
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At first glance talent seems to be the biggest indicator of success in any field. Those who have it rise to the top and those without it are left behind. It’s the basic premise behind all the success stories you see in movies or TV.
But talent isn’t everything. It’s very useful and certainly helps, but it doesn’t seem to be the main underlying force behind success. And if you look at it closely, you’ll realize why.
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It’s been said that actions speak louder than words. For the most part this is true. But if you don’t understand what those actions mean, it doesn’t make a difference either way.
The good news is that understanding the actions of other people doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, I’ve condensed it down to just three steps that have worked really well for me. It’s given me a much better insight not only into other people’s actions, but also their underlying character.
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Trying to figure out who you are seems relatively straightforward. After all, no one spends more time around you than you. But answering the question of how well you know yourself is actually really tricky.
Imagine it like this. Some of the biggest characters in literature have volumes written about their motivation, issues, and relationships. And these are fictional people. If it’s impossible for hundreds of academics to fully understand Hamlet, what are the chances that you’re going to fully understand yourself?
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Friends are one of those simple joys in life. Some of my fondest memories are when I’ve put together a large group of friends and did nothing but hang out. And when times are rough, it’s great to know they’ll be there for you.
But what about those times when everything is going right for you? Nothing bad is happening and life, in general, is actually getting better. Those same friends who are always there for you when things are bad can actually be a hindrance when things are getting better.
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