In storytelling, it’s not always what you do that matters. It’s what you wanted to do, or almost did, but didn’t. The inner debate. The hesitation. The internal monologue can be a passive-aggressive rage you’ve swallowed with a smile, or it can be about what you should have done, but didn’t. That’s internal conflict. And it’s the most underutilized secret weapon in storytelling.
If you want to be more vulnerable, more entertaining, and more relatable—start thinking out loud. Not just out of your mouth. Out of your mind.
Some storytellers struggle to relate personal stories that authentically reveal their character traits without becoming self-absorbed. It’s hard to share experiences and observations in a way that doesn’t turn into a fact-filled recap of what happened, but there’s a trick that is like turning on a fire hose of new ideas. Channel your inner thoughts into an internal monologue to add insight and variety to a personal story.
