Everyone loves telling a story, and people do it all the time. Even, overly personal and private events that they may share in a public setting.

Sadly, sometimes they don’t even know they are doing it, they just think they are talking one-on-one to someone next to them.

When you talk about your experiences, you are the only one who has lived it. There are details that you might fail to mention, because you don’t think that they really need to be told, unless they matter to the person listening…or, to the goal you have from conveying the message.

Think about this:

• Why are you telling them this story?
• What do you want them to know?
• Is it just to hear yourself talk or do you really want them to understand you and your experience?
• Do you want sympathy?
• Are you trying to show that you have empathy for their experience?
• Do you just need to talk to get your mind off of something bothering you?
• Will they be able to help you solve a problem?
• Are you trying to teach them something? (this is actually a really good way to teach someone!)

When you are telling a story, it is ultimately important to make sure that your audience; aka the people around you and the person you are telling: 1) want to hear it, 2) will appreciate what they are hearing and 3) understand why you are telling them…otherwise, you are just making people uncomfortable or forcing them to try to ignore you and they will completely miss the entire point you were trying to make.

~ Dawn aka Hat Girl