Story of Self

Take the time to **reflect** on your own public story by beginning with your story of self. Grab a notebook, a recorder, or a friend who will listen, and describe the milestones and experiences that have brought you to this moment. Go **back as far as you can remember**.

You might start with your **parents**. What made them the people they became? How did their choices influence your own? Do you remember certain “family stories”, perhaps told so often you may have gotten tired of hearing them. Why did they tell these stories and not others? What was the **moral** of these stories? What did they teach? How did they make you **feel**?

In your own life, focus on **challenges** you had to face, the **choices** you made about how to deal with them, and the satisfactions – or frustrations - you experienced. What did you **learn** from the outcomes and how you **feel about them today**? What did they **teach you about yourself, about your family, about your peers, about your community, about your nation, about the world** around you, about people - about what really matters to you? What about these stories was so intriguing? Which elements offered **real perspective into your own life**?

If you’re having trouble, here are some questions to get you started. These questions are NOT meant to be answered individually. They are intended to help to inspire you and get your memory gears rolling so that you can reflect on your public story and **tell it with brevity and intentionality**. Don’t expect to include the answers to all these questions each time you tell your story. They are the **building blocks of many potential stories**, and the object right now is to lay them out in a row and **See What Inspires You**.

What **memories** do you have as a child that link to the people, places, events that you value? What are your favorite memories? What images, sounds or smells in particular come up for you when you recall these memories?

List **every job or project** that you have ever been involved with connected with these values, or not. Be expansive; include things like camping in the wild, serving in a youth group, going to a political rally, organizing a cultural club, experiencing a moment of transcendence. List classes you have taken, projects you have led, and work that you have done that connects with your values. Name the last five books or articles that you have read (by choice) or movies or plays that you have seen. What do you see as a connection or theme that you can see in all of the selections? What did you enjoy about these articles? What does your reading say about you?

Some of the moments you recall may be **painful** as well as **hopeful**. You may have felt excluded, put down or **powerless**, as well as **courageous**, recognized, and inspired. Be sure to attend to the moments of “challenge” as well as to the moments of “hope” – and to learn to be able to **articulate these moments in ways that can enable others to understand who you are**. It is the **combination of “criticality” and “hopefulness” that creates the energy for change.**

What was the last time you spent a day **doing what you love doing**? What in particular made you want to use that day in that way? What was memorable about the day? Is there a specific sight, sound or smell that you think of when you recall this day?

What factors were behind your decision to pursue a **career in public work**? Was there pressure to make different choices? How did you deal with **conflicting influences**?

Who in your life was the person who introduced you to your “calling” or **who encouraged you** to become active? **Why** do you think that they did this? What did your parents model? What was the role, if any, of a community of faith? Whom did you **admire**?

Whom do you credit the most with your involvement now in work for **your cause**? What about their involvement in your life made a difference? Why do you think it was important to them to do so?

NEXT: Story of Us