When was the last time you got drawn into a good story … that wasn’t real?
Maybe it was the latest thriller on Netflix, or a new release by your favorite author. You found something about the plot compelling enough to pay attention — all because someone crafted a work of fiction that resonated with you. It was convincing!
Unless you’re a novelist or a screenwriter, you might assume you share little in common with the person who drafted the story. But whether you put pen to paper or not, the reality is that you’re writing fiction every day. It’s something we all do.
What kinds of stories are you telling yourself?
I’ll tell you the kind of story I’m prone to spin up: one filled with everything that could possibly go wrong. I’m a worrier. My mind creates outrageous fiction, plotting out vivid imagery of the worst-case scenario.
Sound familiar? It’s one of the most common themes in the stories we tell ourselves: “Danger! Disaster ahead!” And if we find the story believable enough, we tend to heed the warning and stay stuck or proceed with far too much caution.
But worry isn’t a true story. It’s a fiction about a future that hasn’t arrived yet.
A better use of our imaginations would be to weave a story about the best outcome. Put your creative energy behind hope and possibilities.
Not only that, but I want you to take it a step further. While you’re at it, go ahead and create ✨outrageous✨ fiction. Be “delulu” as the kids say these days — delusional, for your own good!
Think about it. What if everything is wonderful and will turn out better than your wildest dreams?
Now try this … it’s an exercise straight out of my book, Now What?: 90 Days to a New Life Direction.
Step 1: Come up with 5 outrageous, fictitious scenarios about how your goal or wish can come to be. Your dream job, dream business, dream bank account balance…
Ex: I’m walking down the hall, and bump into Oprah, and she gives me a million dollars.
Get it? Totally outrageous and over the top.
Step 2: After you’re done, read back over your works of fiction and pick out what you can borrow from it. What’s the fiction trying to tell you? Because there’s SOME truth in there somewhere; you might have to dig for it.
Use what you discover to inform your next steps. Do you need to be more bold? Should you find a way to connect with powerful people? Are you recognizing the value of having a platform?
The idea is to stretch your thinking and turn fictional prompts into doable strategies, and you’ll be surprised by what may happen as a result. People accomplish outrageous things every day that started as nothing more than fiction!
Use your brain for good and find inspiration for taking bigger action.
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