When Sharing Your Story:
Why "I" is More Powerful Than "You":
I'd like to invite you to please pay closer attention to your languaging. The words you use DO matter and how you affect a field.
I didn't feel like taking the time to write about this as I have a to-do list to get to but it came front and center in my awareness as I listened to a podcast in the shower, and I think it's important to point out as a teaching moment so I asked AI to write it for me.
If you are a speaker, podcaster, or just in relationship with other humans it makes a huge difference personally and in the relational field to own your own story with "I" statements vs. "You" statements.
Why and a quickie invitation for your self development and relational impact field.
👇🏻Below from Claude:
Have you ever noticed someone telling their personal story using "you" instead of "I"?
"You feel lost, so you go looking for escape..."
Instead of:
"I felt lost, so I went looking for escape..."
Here's why this subtle shift can backfire:
1. It projects your experience onto others
Your unique journey isn't universal. When you use "you," you unconsciously force your narrative onto listeners who may have walked entirely different paths.
2. It can create resistance
When a speaker says "you" while describing behaviors unfamiliar to their audience, it triggers an immediate "that's not me" response. Connection lost.
3. It distances you from your own story
Using "you" can be a subtle form of avoiding full ownership of your experiences. Your story gains power through claiming it.
4. It can feel presumptuous
There's an unintended aggression in telling others what "you" do, especially when describing challenging or destructive behaviors.
The Solution:
Own your narrative with "I." Let others choose how much they relate rather than linguistically drafting them into your experience.
"I felt lost, I made mistakes, I found my way back."
Your story matters precisely because it's yours. Tell it that way.
#CommunicationTips #PersonalGrowth #Storytelling #EmotionalIntelligence
