You Are The Hero Of Your Novel - Self-development

Have you ever read a book where the main character got everything she wanted without a fight at all? Probably not. Nobody would even want to read such a book. It would be incredibly boring. All good books have conflicts and strong characters that must face them

Have you ever thought that your life is like a book? You are the hero of your own story

Many of us don't see ourselves as heroes. When we read books or watch films, we are inspired by the struggles of the characters and perceive them as strong and heroic, even if they do not succeed. And when we think about our own trauma, we don't see ourselves as inspiring or brave. This often happens because we are too close to our own suffering to look at it with an objective perspective and with the compassion with which we would treat another person. Instead of seeing ourselves as heroes and winners, we are gripped by the desire that problems never occur. When this happens, we don't see the big picture and we lose the “plot”.

If you could read your life story, chapter by chapter, you would see how the most difficult and painful moments led to increased strength, growth, or perhaps even pointed you in the right direction to develop. No doubt you will be inspired by your own strength

A study by the University of Arizona found that engaging in narrative writing - writing a structured story that helps make sense of painful emotions - could reduce negative physiological responses to stress. For example, in people who have recently experienced divorce, this storytelling has contributed to a decrease in heart rate. The exercise allowed people to process their feelings more adaptively, rather than just rephrasing them over and over again.

Now you have a chance to see yourself as the hero of your own fairy tale. Think about a difficult event that happened in your life and write it as a short story. Follow these steps:

• Use your real name in the story in the third person (she or he), not as the first person (s). You are the storyteller.
• Consider whether the main test in your story is the situation, another person, or yourself (for example, your own mind or illness).
• Be sure to include the beginning, middle and end. The plot must grow through the middle of the story and climax towards the end before it resolves.
• Describe how the main character (you) faced any problems and did the best she could with what she had at the time.
• Make sure to express the emotions of your main character. You can also enable the emotions of other characters, including the "villain".
• Complete the lessons that have been learned, even if they were hard to learn.
• Spend as much time recording as you like. Return to the text in a few days for editing.
• Keep your story close at hand when you need to be inspired by your own strength.

By seeing our life on paper, we can observe ourselves as if we were another person who deserves love and compassion. The next time you run into trouble, try to remember that this is only one chapter and call on your inner hero.

By Tracey Pedersen