The Psychology of Storytelling | IN-Q

IN-Q (0:00)

The main problem is, society has taught us that our happiness is something we can gain, something we can claim, something we attach to our name so we distract from our shame and search for happiness outside ourself, perpetuating pain. But happiness is not a place. It's not a destination on the map. There's nothing that's outside of you that's gonna show you where you're at. Awareness is a conscious act. My happiness is not an accident. I practiced it.

IN-Q is an Emmy nominated poet, multi-platinum songwriter.

Michael Gervais (0:36)

With songs written with artists like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Aloe Blacc.

SPEAKER_3 (0:40)

He was named to Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul list of the world's most influential thought leaders.

IN-Q (0:45)

We leave all art to the professionals. In doing that, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to express.

Michael Gervais (0:53)

Adam, you just created a 90-minute gift where you brought an entire Finding Mastery team through an experience. There was a nervousness and excitement. It was just awesome.

IN-Q (1:03)

Thank you for saying that. We basically went through a storytelling session specifically around the genre of poetry. The idea is to figure out what it is that is stopping you from living your life with the fullest power and purpose and passion.

Michael Gervais (1:18)

How do we do that?

IN-Q (1:20)

Well, I'll just tell you how I do it.

Michael Gervais (1:23)

Well done, mate. Well done. I see you, IN-Q.

IN-Q (1:27)

Thank you, buddy.

Michael Gervais (1:28)

Yeah, man.

Adam, I've never started a podcast the way that I feel right now.

And the reason being is because I've never had the gift that somebody has given me prior to the podcast. So you just created a 90-minute gift, where you brought the entire Finding Mastery team through an experience. And I would like for you to describe what it is that you just did for us, in your words. But I want to start with my experience for just a moment. Please. My eyes were welling almost half of the time. My heart was full. There was a nervousness and excitement. There was a vulnerability. There was relief in the honesty of sharing. There was the celebration of other people going for it. And revealing parts of themselves that were the most honest parts of themselves. It was just awesome. So I'm starting this conversation in a way that I've never started. So I excitingly don't know how this conversation will go.

Thank you. And more importantly, can you share what you just walked us through?

IN-Q (2:41)

Yeah, absolutely. First of all, thank you for saying that. It's a really nice reflection to receive. We basically went through a storytelling session, specifically around the genre of poetry.

And I try to create a container for groups of people that either are strangers or who have worked together for years to dive into moving and meaningful stories about their lives. And then share them with each other in an environment that celebrates vulnerability, honesty, authenticity, so that people can wind up connecting on a deeper level. And hopefully that connection leads to more empathy, better collaboration and better creation.

Michael Gervais (3:25)

As an artist, did you ever think you were going to be in front of thousands of people sharing your art or creating an experience for them to find some art within them? Did you ever think that that would be your path?

IN-Q (3:35)

Well, I was always more interested in my story, to be honest.

Which, looking back, was necessary. But now the older that I get, I think other people's stories are so fascinating. I mean, I know my own story, and I'm happy to talk about it in this conversation today. But I'll probably also ask you questions about your life because I want to know who you are and how you came to be in this moment that we are sharing together, spinning in the middle of space. So, for me, I still write for myself, and I share those things with other people.

I'm always the first person in my audience. I don't even always decide that I want other people to hear the things that I create. So I start from that place of rawness and realness. But I'd also like to use it as a vehicle for other people to remove the obstacles that are in the way of them telling the truth.

Michael Gervais (4:30)

You just hit on something really important, which is like the idea from self to others. And when a person is in pain, or they're suffering in some way, emotional, physical, whatever, spiritual, whatever it might be, there tends to be a self-focused or self-absorbed need to take care of the wound, or the pain or suffering that the person's experiencing. And so up crops self-help. And it is a self-focused venture. And we get it terribly wrong if we don't get the second note right, which is for what aim, what reason. And the second note is to be there for others, to help others, to support them, to challenge them, to help them go further, deeper, whatever it might be.