How to break through self-doubt even when you feel stuck in a creative rut
The Twitter Space had just started, but I was already questioning why I was there.
As I unmuted my mic, my chest tightened. The little voice in my head - the one that loves to sabotage moments like this - whispered: Don’t ask this stupid ass question.
But I unmuted anyway.
“Hi,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I’ve read a lot about storytelling, and I know it’s important, but honestly… I don’t think I have any stories.”
The host didn’t hesitate.
“Bullshit,” he said.
Me: 😲 {wait a Mississippi minute my guy}
He then asked me about my background. I told him I’d spent two decades in sales and sales management.
“Have you ever managed someone who ignored your advice and did the opposite of what you told them?” he asked.
I laughed. “Uh, yeah. Every day.”
“Well, that’s a story,” he said. “And I bet you have thousands more just like it.”
I nodded along, but I didn’t really believe him. Months passed, and I still kept searching for the “perfect” stories, totally ignoring his advice. I wasn’t convinced that the small moments from my life would ever compare to the cinematic stories I saw people sharing online.
Then, during the first week of my son’s freshman year of college, he told me something that threw me for a loop.
He and his best friend had written in their journals freshman year of high school that they wanted to play sports for a D1 or D2 school. And now, they were both doing it.
I had no idea they’d done this. But it was definitely a proud mama moment.
All those years of talking about affirmations, manifestations, and speaking things into existence - he’d been listening.
And now here he was, living the life he’d quietly visualized and written down.
It was so surreal that I decided to make a quick post about it on Twitter - and then went about my day, not expecting anything to come from it.
That night, when I logged back into Twitter, I was floored.
That off-the-cuff post about a random conversation with my son had the most engagement I’d ever gotten. More likes, comments, and shares than anything I’d posted before.
A simple, honest story had done what months of overthought stories hadn’t.
That was the moment I finally understood what the Spaces host told me all those months before.
Did you know that stories about ordinary, everyday moments are 22% more likely to create emotional connections with an audience than dramatic narratives?
We think storytelling is about big. Big moments. Big lessons. Big emotions.
But your audience doesn’t need you to write a novel. They need you to reflect their own experiences - the ones that make them feel alone… like nobody is going through something like that, but them.
When you tell a story about something ‘regular’ - a messy morning, an awkward conversation, or even a moment of self-doubt - you create a bridge.
Your audience stops seeing you as someone who has it all figured out, a person they know they'll never be, and instead see you as someone who gets it, and them.
That’s what storytelling is really about: connection, not perfection.
Here’s how to find and tell meaningful stories from your daily life using my P.R.O.V.E. Method:
• P - Pinpoint the Moment
Identify a small, real moment that stuck with you - something your audience can relate to.
• R - Reflect on the Impact
What about this moment mattered? Did it change how you felt, what you learned, or what you believe?
• O - Open the Connection
Ask yourself: how does this moment tie into what your audience feels, wants, or needs? Draw the line for them.
• V - Voice It Authentically
Tell the story honestly, without worrying about how it “should” sound. The realness is what resonates.
• E - Extract the Lesson
End by showing the audience what they can take away - something they can feel, do, or believe differently because of your story.
Why This Works
People crave stories that reflect their lives - not perfect, cinematic narratives.
When you share everyday moments, your audience feels a sense of relief. Finally, someone living the life I’m living.
The story about my son didn’t resonate because it was dramatic - it resonated because it was universal. As parents, we're constantly wondering if we’re secretly messing our kids up. Or if they’re even listening to anything we’re telling them.
Those quiet moments when we get that ‘you did a good job Mom/Dad’ type feedback is EVERYTHING for a parent.
Here’s What You’ll Get Out of It
• A New Lens for Stories: You’ll stop searching for “epic” and start seeing the value in the moments you already have.
• Authentic Connections: Your audience will feel seen, heard, and understood because your stories reflect their lives.
• Effortless Engagement: You’ll finally realize that the stories that resonate most are the ones you already have.
“Your most powerful stories aren’t the big one - they’re the ones that make your audience say, ‘Me too.’”
Your Turn
Think back on the last few days:
1. What stuck with you? Was there a moment - big or small - that made you pause, laugh, or feel something unexpected?
2. What did you notice? Was there a shift in how you felt, what you learned, or how you saw the world?
3. How can it connect? How might your audience relate to that moment?
Write it down and share it. But, not tomorrow. Not next week. Don’t stick it on your content calendar.
Share it in the moment - TODAY‼️
Remember: The secret isn’t in finding better stories. It’s in seeing the ones you already have.