April 10, 2010 219 Comments

The Importance of Story in Your Life

I’ve already raved about Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Watch the video again, if you want:

The book is about story, but it’s not exactly a book about writing. It’s about seeing your life like a story. It’s about living a better story. It’s about learning how to be present and interact in your life’s story.

Quite simply: it’s the type of book that can help you change your life, if you’re willing to do the work.

I spoke to Michael Hyatt at Thomas Nelson, Don Miller’s publisher. He’s a great guy, and he’s endured my public speaking a few times so far, so I give him extra credit for that. Michael very kindly offered me 100 books to give away, knowing just how much I loved Don’s book.

So, for you, a challenge:

Get a Copy of Donald Miller’s Book

(This is only open to folks in the US for this particular project. But you should still consider getting the book, no matter.)

Here’s what I’d love to do. I’d love for you to write a quick blog post about the importance of story in your life. That’s it. If you want, link back to http://www.chrisbrogan.com/importance-of-story, so I’ll see the trackbacks as well.

When you’ve submitted your post, fill out this form, and give us the URL where we can see the story. Work for you?

It’s a great book and deserves a lot of attention in 2010. I hope you decide to check it out.

Related posts:

  1. Your New Show- Geek Farm Life
  2. Seek the Bigger Story or Tell a New One
  3. Tell Your Story Your Way
  4. Women Get Harrassed in Second Life Too
  5. Recharging and Life Balance

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • jenwaak

    I've been wanting to tell that for a long time — but feeling a bit exposed right now. http://movefitfun.com/2010/04/12/what-is-your-s…

  • http://www.eighthletter.com/ Darryl Silvestri

    When I was 15 years old I made a decision that I was going to make a serious go of my relationship with God. I was attending a Pentecostal church at the time with my mother and brother, so my brother and I began going to Youth Group on Friday nights. I grew a lot in my faith over the next several years as I got more involved with church. Coincidentally, I also grew equally bitter at my father over the same span of time. My father had stopped going to church about the time I started high school, so for much of those formative years, my father was somewhat absent, spiritually and emotionally speaking.

    When I was in college my father had came to pick me up and help me move home for the summer, it was a three hour car ride and I wasn't looking forward to one minute of it. It was hard for me to respect my father when I saw so many other kids in Youth Group whose fathers were always at the church at prayer meetings and church out-reach events and who genuinely cared about their faith and their children's faith. So in my immature angst as the conversation meandered from one irrelevant topic to the next, I steered it towards God and faith, in the hopes that he would see how much he failed as a father and feel sorry.

    Something happened, however, that I never expected. My father began telling me stories from years before I was born. He told me about how him and my mother would start going to a church and they would invest so much of themselves into a community and the church ends up splitting, this happened at least three times to them. He told me about the time he was at a men's fellowship breakfast and the speaker asked if anyone didn't “speak in tongues”, my father naively raised his hand. Half an hour later, one of the half a dozen men who had been “fervently” praying for him to receive this “gift of the Holy Spirit”, to just start mumbling something, “just to get it started.” Not only was my father completely humiliated by being centered out in front of the few hundred men there, he felt ashamed and worthless; something that came so easily to everyone else in the room just would come to him.

    It was in that moment that I realized that my father had a story, he was a person who was on a journey (just like I was) of faith. I had a lot more grace for my father after that. Story has a way of doing that. When you find out someone's story you begin to have compassion for them. Story is very important to me, it helped me have a relationship with my father again.

  • SomaNstory

    Hi,

    It sounds like a great book to bring in ontological orientation without using the word. From the point of view of ontological change or transformational change the story one is living out of and into makes all the difference of whether the life is one worth living or less than that. There are many pathways to a fuller, deeper and more satisfied life. Organizing one's story in relation to a future that works then generates the story that is a container for a way of being that is the ground of the story.

    Thanks for the posting.

  • http://thoughtbythought.net/ Tresha Thorsen

    whoa nilly…i'm a few days behind seein this but what a neat offer…first wanna add: dig muchly the new look/feel. very smooth and welcoming and ebbs and flows even better than previous layout…really like it. also…so value where you did this video. i'm sure you poured thought into the background..but it's awesome to see trinkets on your shelves you've blogged about …the deets that give our lives, our stories meaning. neat. off to post why story matters…regardless if all 100 are gone, the nudge matters. thanks for it.

  • Pingback: The Importance of Story in My Life « Safe Digression

  • http://www.HomesInTempeArizona.com/ Katharine K. Whiting

    I posted my comments below on my blog and tried a link back which I have never done before and am not sure if it was successful so I copied and pasted what i wrote below:
    The Importance of Story in Your Life
    Posted by Katharine Whiting On 12 April 2010 No Commented | Under: Uncategorized
    Yesterday Chris Brogan suggested his readers write a short blog about The Importance of Story in Your Life. The concept came from a book he recently read by Don Miller called Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I have not had the opportunity yet to read this book but will share thoughts about the concept:

    If I were to look at my life in decades with each one being a chapter I would have six, each unique with it’s own story. But there is a common thread running through the various chapters of my life and that is making the best of my relationship with my family, my friends and my God.

    I have been blest to have a variety of settings for my story from around the world and have experienced many cultures and personalities and lifestyles. Other peoples stories have impacted my own and in a sense have fine tuned me.

    I recently found that as I wrote the thoughts and meaning of my story down I could gain more insight. This was accomplished with the ideas given by Kim Ades and her Frame of Mind coaching using journaling. By journaling our thoughts and feelings we are sharing our story with ourselves and perhaps then better able to share our authentic self with others. I would like to read Don Miller’s book. This blog may be a means of acquiring a copy…..

  • http://www.HomesInTempeArizona.com Katharine K. Whiting

    I copied and pasted the comments below from my blog as I have never done a linkback before and was not sure if I did it correctly:
    The Importance of Story in Your Life
    Posted by Katharine Whiting On 12 April 2010 No Commented | Under: Uncategorized
    Yesterday Chris Brogan suggested his readers write a short blog about The Importance of Story in Your Life. The concept came from a book he recently read by Don Miller called Million Miles in a Thousand Years. I have not had the opportunity yet to read this book but will share thoughts about the concept:

    If I were to look at my life in decades with each one being a chapter I would have six, each unique with it’s own story. But there is a common thread running through the various chapters of my life and that is making the best of my relationship with my family, my friends and my God.

    I have been blest to have a varity of settings for my story from around the world and have experienced many cultures and personalities and lifestyles. Other peoples stories have impacted my own and in a sense have fine tuned me.

    I recently found that as I wrote the thoughts and meaning of my story down I could gain more insight. This was accomplished with the ideas given by Kim Ades and her Frame of Mind coaching using journaling. By journaling our thoughts and feelings we are sharing our story with ourselves and perhaps then better able to share our authentic self with others. I would like to read Don Miller’s book. This blog may be a means of acquiring a copy…..

  • http://HomesInTempeArizona.com Katharine K. Whiting

    Below is what I wrote in my blog but am not sure if my first attempt at a link back worked – coping and pasting it here didn't so I am re-writing it here to see if that works:

    The Importance of Story in Your Life

    Yesterday Chris Brogan suggested his readers write a short blog about The Importance of Story In Your Life. The concept came from a book he recently read by Don Miller called A Million Miles In A Thousand Years. I have not had the opportunity yet to read this book but will share thoughts about the concept:

    If I were to look at my life in decades with each one being a chapter I would have six, each unique with it's own story. But there is a common thread running through the various chapters of my life and that is making the best of my relationships with my family, my friends and my God.

    I have been blest to have a variety of settings for my story from around the world and have experienced many cultures and personalities and lifestyles. Other peoples stories have impacted my own and in a sense have fine tuned me.

    I recently found that as I wrote the thoughts and meaning of my story down I could gain more insight. This was accomplished with the ideas given by Kim Ades and her Frame of Mind Coaching using journaling. By jounaling our thoughts and feelings we are sharing our story with ourselves and perhaps then better able to share our authentic self with others. I would like to read Don Miller's book. This blog may be a means of acquiring a copy…

  • Pingback: The Importance of Story in My Life « georgia preach

  • Pingback: The Importance of Story « The Anecdotal Archivist

  • Pingback: The Currency of Human Contact…Story

  • ronnichols

    Great insights, I think you got the point Angela! :) Thanks for sharing your story.

    The thing about sharing is creating relationships that are common between people. We can get to socialize, share experiences and find people who can see themselves in your position while you experience that, providing you their experience and advices.

    Some people won´t like your story, some other will love it. It´s encouraging, inspiring and give us the feeling that we are not alone, right? Asking for help, advices, tips, experiences is what we want when we go about social media.

    Finally, I would recommend startups to join the conversations on http://startups.com and share with others, experiences, tips and advices on how to overcome business situations.

  • http://scaredpanda.com/ Kaitlin Olson

    Just bought a copy of this book and cannot wait to dive in and write a post when I'm done reading. Thanks for the suggestion!

  • http://thefamilyb.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/life-as-a-story Karen

    Wonderful – I hope that my blog post is just the start of thinking through this idea of story in my life… just made a post and filled out the form! :)

  • BillKerschbaum

    Hey Chris, did you see this?

  • http://www.projectauthenticity.com Robyn

    Awesome challenge Chris…you really set my wheels a turnin! Thank you!
    http://www.projectauthenticity.com/2010/04/13/t…

  • http://www.peasforprosperity.com Christy Annis

    Hi Chris,

    I love this challenge! I filled out the form but didn't realize we were supposed to post our story here. Here is my New Story!

    I was invited to participate in an interesting challenge this morning on Twitter – write a post about the importance of story in your life. It was issued in reference to the book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years written by Donald Miller. I haven’t read the book but the basic premise is this: if your life is a story, why not make it a better story?

    This challenge really spoke to me. Over the past 9 months, my life has completely changed. I didn’t choose the initial catalyst but I have embraced it ever since. I have viewed it as an adventure, an opportunity to write a new life story, a much better story. A chance to recreate my life.

    After 12 years, I finally realized my Book of Life was sitting in the wrong library. I had worked hard to get into that library. I attended a top tier law school and graduated in the top of my class. I was placed in a very prestigious library, a library so many people wanted to be in, yet I was unhappy. I didn’t fit in with those books.

    My story was sad, written while wiping away tears, desperate to find bits of joy in my life. I bounced around to other sections in the library, real estate, telecommunications, always working hard, trying to excel, trying to fit into those neat stackable shelves. I kept writing my story, but it was still not a happy one. I was frustrated, depressed, and felt powerless, ready to give up. I mostly kept my story to myself, no one had any idea how much I was suffering. Even though my story was dark, I was always popular with the other books. I had a lot of friends, people thought I was smart, said I was going to be extremely successful. I had almost given up hope.

    The opportunity to re-write my story came last June. I was fired – checked out of that prestigious library. No warning, no severance, nothing. It was a huge blow, I was terrified. What the heck was I going to do?

    Of course, reason and just about everyone I knew told me to get up, dust myself off, and check myself back in that library. But I just couldn’t do it. That chapter in my Book of Life was over. Not everything in that Chapter was sad or bad. That Chapter is filled with memories, accomplishments, and experiences I wouldn’t trade for the world. I also wouldn’t be where I am today without experiencing every single syllable in every single word in that Chapter. It was just time for me to write a new story, a new Chapter in my Book of Life.

    I had no idea what I was going to do, I just knew it was going to be different. I spent the first few months exploring, seeing what was out there, throwing all sorts of balls against the wall, every experience a little prelude to the new Chapter of my life.

    Then one day I had a crazy idea. I shared it with a few people. Yes, they confirmed it was crazy. But I loved it. I believed in it. I was passionate. It consumed me. My brain was spinning. It didn’t matter that everyone thought it was crazy. This was my story! I didn’t need approval from my friends, my family, or my boss. It was up to me, and me only. I could write the story any way I wanted to. And so I did.

    Yes, it was a crazy idea but I have an incredible new story. My life has completely changed, for the better. Now, I am helping other people in my community write their stories, discover their hidden talents and strengths.

    My Chapter is not finished, it’s only just begun. Every night before I go to bed I think about what I am going to create the next day and then I wake up and do it. There are no limits to what I can do. That’s the great thing about writing your story. It has no boundaries, no limits.

    Everyone has the power to create their story, to shape their life, exactly how they would like it to be. The only thing stopping you from creating your best selling story is you.

    Christy

  • Pingback: Getting Unstuck with Words | Confident Writing

  • http://www.pallino1021.com/ John Lawrence

    I never looked at my life like a story, Chris. Thanks for sharing. I've included a blog http://necessities.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-… Hope it explains my story. Saw you speak at Module9 in Detroit last year at about this time. Are you coming back to this area again. Enjoy the blog and Third Tribe.

  • Pingback: The Importance of Story

  • Pingback: Are you married? « Help Hard.

  • http://twitter.com/vaishnav2010 VAISHNAV KUMAR YADAV

    Politics:-Oh this post is very good Leaving behind my story was a way for my kids to hopefully understand who I was and how I became that person through my life experiences. Being encouraged to share my story publicly was life changing! I found great healing through the realization that my story, just an ordinary person, was something of value to others. When others communicated to me that my story and my survival was one of encouragement, hope and inspiration I felt a sudden, deep in my heart and soul healing. I knew then that all that I endured and overcome was for a reason. thanks student aid.

  • http://justinmwhitaker.com justinmwhitaker

    I know I am late to the game. The winners have already been chosen. No matter. I want to share my entry anyway. http://justinmwhitaker.com/?p=968

  • Pingback: Rising to a Challenge « Allen’s E-journal

  • http://www.pastorallenblog.wordpress.com Allen Gibson

    See my answer to this challnge at:
    http://pastorallenblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/14…

  • naemerick

    Sorry to have missed the http://inspirationbriefcase.blogspot.com” rel=”nofollow”>cutoff…http://inspirationbriefcase.blogspot.com

  • http://www.nike-star-shoes.net/ nike shoes

  • Pingback: How to tell your story Tina Fey style « … for mothers who want to live out loud …

  • http://www.halfasmanychances.blogspot.com Ceejay

    I'm also sorry I missed this initially, but I did want to write about it because I love the topic: http://halfasmanychances.blogspot.com/2010/04/m…

  • inwoods

    Thank you for this, I wrote my thoughts here http://bit.ly/9vmw2o at my website Positive Impact Living
    (http://poitiveimpactliving.blogspot.com/2010/04…) Here's an excerpt:-

    'A lot of stories come from dreams. James Cameron's Avatar came about because of a dream he had, probably Shakespeare dreamt of A Midsummer's Night Dream before he wrote it, Martin Luther King had a dream and we know what that led to…
    I often wonder about the unheard stories. You never know when you first meet someone, what their story is and even if you've lived with someone your whole life, even if they're family; you will never truly know their story.
    Stories are an approximation, an attempt to share through any means, an experience, a vision…
    I am trying to write a story right now. Actually I have several stories on the go but this particular one is very personal and difficult. I have been listening to other people's stories of surviving trauma and their life experiences,so bravely told. A lot of my life I have belittled the importance of my own story in the light (or apparent darkness) of other people's judgement. I have let their opinions colour how I felt about myself already.

    Sometimes when you cannot express your story it gets trapped inside you like shrapnel…'

  • http://www.bestmaxshoes.com air max 2009

    cheap nike air max shoes ， air max 2009， with authentic ，air max 1，quality and discount cheap ，cheap jordan shoes，wholesale prices: nike air max 90 ，Cheap Nike Air Jordan Shoes ，air max 1 shoes,air max shoes,Nike dunk SB sneakers， Jordan retro 11,Nike air force ，air max LTD， Custom Air Force 1 ，nike air max 2009, Nike Air Force 25, nike air max 360， Nike Shox TL ，nike air max 180， NZ Turbo monster, nike air max tn ，Nike Air Max trainers, cheap jordan shoes,Nike Air Max Skyline, Airmax 95, Airmax 97, jordan shoes for sale, Air Yeezy sneakers, air jordan fusion 12, Nike Foamposite, air jordan fusion 20,ATO, air jordan fusion 3,,4US, air jordan spizikes, Prada Shoes, nike jordan 2010 , Lacoste shoes, Ed Hardy sneakers, air jordan 6 rings, Puma Speed Cat, air jordan packs, Y3, Adidas Goodyear, jordan basketball shoes, Adidas Anniversary, Adidas City Series, cheap jordan shoes, We wholesale jordan shoes for sale wholesale suppliers.

  • http://www.eyewear-rayban.com ray ban wayfarer

    The project is very interesting

  • http://www.paulsmiths-outlet.com paul smith shoes

    Paul Smith shoes,Paul Smith bag,Paul Smith shirts,the latest Paul Smith clothing and accessories from UK.

    Paul Smith,the leading British brand. Although it was established in 1976 from menswear,nowdays,it is very popular in UK, and famous as its multi-stripe and plain design.

    If you want to have a distinctive wardrobe, don't miss Paul Smith.

  • Anne02
  • Anne02
  • Anne02
  • customthesiswriting

    this kind of blog always useful for blog readers, it helps people during research. your post is one of the same for blog readers.

    Buy Thesis Papers

  • storycoach

    Hey Chris, great post…this is the basis of my life's work as a Story Coach – founder of Story Coach Inc. Take a look at my site http://www.story-coach.com and blog http://storycoachlisa.com and don't forget to download my free e-book '5 Common Mistakes People Make that a Good Story Can Fix'! Love your work Chris….best, Lisa

  • Pingback: On Autopilot « Anna’s Attic

  • Pingback: Best of the Internet This Week! (Part 2) « Communication Breakdown

  • Pingback: Monday Must-Reads: Live in the Moment, Live a Happier Life

  • http://www.ed-hardy-outlet.net ED Hardy outlet

  • Pingback: The Importance of Story | The Art of Life

  • customthesiswriting

    this kind of blog always useful for blog readers, it helps people during research. your post is one of the same for blog readers.

    Buy Thesis Papers

  • http://twitter.com/ThadSquirrel Thaddeus Squirrel

    Inspired by Chris's post, I just added a new post on “creating our own stories” to my blog.

    See: http://findingtheinnerway.com/2010/04/20/its-ti…

    I haven't read Don Miller's new book yet, but recommend his “Blue Like Jazz”. Unique perspective on life and God from a Christian writer who doesn't fit the stereotype.

  • Dana Webster

    My life's eyes were opened June 10, 2008. It was the day before my son's second birthday, 2 days before my own birthday. I had just had a baby a few weeks earlier, and at ~10:30am, I was diagnosed with cancer.

    My story about cancer is very visible on the internet, and I'm sure there are people tired of hearing I'm an almost 2 year survivor. I'm not. Having cancer, getting chemo, being a young working Mom and beating it so far have all molded me into the person I am today.

    We all have a story – we all have a journey in life that has led us to this moment in time. Some of us are just better (and more vocal storytellers than others).

    Having cancer helped me want to be a better wife, a more involved mother, a less consumed employee, a better daughter, sister, friend, person. Beating cancer has been the hardest thing I've done because it can come back at any moment.

    I joke that I “troll” around mommy websites all day. That's where I've been most vocal about my cancer because I want more mothers to see their children as a blessing than an annoyance (my kids are not 2 and 3.5 – I know all about annoyances).

    Stories help us relate, be introspective, shape our desires of where we are and where we want to be.

    My story is not unique, but my desire to share it might be. I'm always awe-stricken by the stories of people who've been challenged and succeeded over more monumental obstacles than I have. My experience gives my kids a story to mold them into great people today and their futures – no matter how my own story ends.

  • Pingback: What is the Story of Your Life? | Rss Blog List

  • Pingback: » And That's My Sunday Story, Folks. What's Yours? Use Your Words: The Business of Writing

  • Pingback: Andy O'Dower / Ideas.Connections.Communication.Advertising.Marketing.Creative.Design.Philosophy.odower» Blog Archive » “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”

  • http://www.odower.com Andy O'Dower

    Just got a GREAT surprise in the mail yesterday: my free copy! Thanks! I'm already 30 pages in and telling my friends that they've got to read it.

    Serendipitously, I had written this post (http://www.odower.com/2010/03/06/be-stupid/) a week before after typing up my 90 year old neighbors' memoirs to her grandchildren. If there ever was a reason to think of how I'd like my story to turn out, that was it.

    Thanks again for the book, keep on doing what you're doing and I'll continue to listen and better yet, take action on the good stuff.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →