What's Your Superhero Origin Story?

We're all storytellers, and the most compelling story we can tell is our OWN.

The spider bite, goons killing the kid’s parents, a baby sent into space to escape a dying planet.

The child of a virgin laid down in a manger.

The greatest stories are all about people, and people all start somewhere. Think of any incredible character in a beloved book or movie, and you probably know their ‘back story’. Why? Because of exactly that question - we all want to know ‘why’ someone is who they are, and how they came to do what they do.

And those origin stories might have a more powerful purpose than merely answering our curiosity. Origin stories could be a superpower of their own - one you need to learn to wield.

I shared part of my own origin in the first post for this newsletter - Change The Story, Save The World. About how stories changed the trajectory of my life, and of so many others.

But I’ll be honest, it’s taken me almost a half century to get comfortable talking about the experiences that made me who I am. Instead, when I explained my passion for sustainability, climate action and social good, I used to share a slew of facts, stats and science - as if I was simply a vehicle for the rational rather than a person shaped by my past.

I’m not the only one.

So many of us who are passionate about the world talk about it in abstract terms: parts per million of carbon, biodiversity losses, human rights targets. But behind every act of change, there’s a personal story, a moment when someone woke up and decided to care enough to act. And that moment, I’ve come to believe, matters just as much as the action itself.

Your Origin Is A Welcome Mat

Too often, the ‘case for change’ sounds more like a moralising sermon, a telling-off, or a patronising lesson in sustainability science.

And then we’re shocked that people don’t warm to our themes, or can’t even summon any interest to listen at all.

But being vulnerable, and sharing the experiences that led us to act, gives people something to empathise with. A reason to care, a foundation to build from, and a narrative to latch onto.

People don’t connect with statistics; they connect with stories.

What I’ve learned from writing, from storytelling, and from the countless creative minds I’ve met along the way, is that personal stories can ripple outward, shaping culture faster than policy or science alone ever could. Culture is where movements begin, with a story shared over coffee, a post that makes someone think, or a moment of vulnerability when we share something true about ourselves.

Research offers fascinating insights into why this power works. When we hear stories, our brains release oxytocin, the chemical which helps us build empathy and trust. According to Dr. Paul J. Zak, a pioneering researcher in neuroeconomics, oxytocin is pumped into the brain when we experience emotional narratives, thereby making us more likely to trust and cooperate with others. In his studies, participants who were shown emotional stories had significantly higher oxytocin levels and then they were even more inclined to engage in charitable and pro-social behavior.

Storytelling is the necessary ‘welcome mat’ to prepare the emotional context to talk about the big issues, warming people up (or at least their hearts).

And the story you can rely on to get right, and to tell with authenticity…is your own.

Once Upon A Time, You Learnt To Tell Your Story

So how do you tell your origin story in a way that sparks action and connection? Here are some things I’ve learned:

Start with a moment of change. Pinpoint a moment or experience that made you sit up and notice something was wrong in the world. It could be awe-inspiring or heart-breaking, or it might be a book you read or just watching animals play as a child. It doesn’t need to be grandiose but it must be real.

Focus on emotion. People remember how you made them feel far more than what you made them think. So use emotional words, explain how you felt in those origin moments - scared, awestruck, overwhemled, angry, shocked, excited.

Use vivid details. Let people see, hear, and feel the story you’re telling. Describe the sights, sounds, smells that defined that moment. If you were 10-years-old watching a beloved tree being felled; tell me if it was chilly winter or sweaty summer, what sound it did the saws make, did you feel tears on your cheek, and make tummy churn?

Show vulnerability. Change doesn’t start from perfection. Be honest about the confusion, doubt, or fear you feel even now. Stories are alwasy about emotional journeys - so share yours.

Tie to action. End your story with what you did about those experiences that shaped you. Show the pathway from waking up to an issue, through to taking action on it.

Ask for a story in return. Ask people about THEIR experience of nature, of unfairness, of postive change. The only thing more impactful than sharing your origin story, is inspiring someone else to share their own and listening to it in rapt attention.

I’ve found that telling my own story not only inspires others but keeps me motivated, too. It reminds me why I care, even on days when the headlines feel heavy.

But, it isn’t easy to be this vulnerable. You need to practice saying it out loud. Share your origin story with a friend or in a trusted group. Notice what makes people lean in, how it feels in your voice, what is hardest to say. Your story is a powerful tool, but it takes practice.

And if you ever doubt whether your story matters, remember this: culture changes one story at a time. One person deciding to care. One conversation sparking another. One brave moment of honesty making someone else say, ‘yes, me too.’

So, what is your superhero origin story? You can share it here in the comments, because we’d all love to hear it.

⭐ Please share this post on Linkedin, on other social media and email it to friends who might need this advice on becoming a powerful storyteller ⭐