04/17/23

It’s All For The Plot

notes on grounding and maintaining alignment in your story 

Or as Margaret Atwood so eloquently put 

“When you are in the middle of a story it isn’t a story at all, but only a confusion; a dark roaring, a blindness, a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood; like a house in a whirlwind, or else a boat crushed by the icebergs or swept over the rapids, and all aboard powerless to stop it. It’s only afterwards that it becomes anything like a story at all. When you are telling it, to yourself or to someone else.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about finding alignment, contentment, and intention. I wrote about it in How To Know What To Do. 

Essentially, my theory, and what works for me is – to be as present as possible so I can listen to my intuition, notice when it comes up, which helps me identify my intention, and when executing on said intention – find alignment. 

I have come to the realization that during tumultuous periods, particularly when embroiled in a complex narrative, we often find it difficult to remain present, or notice, or execute. As humans, we are not automatons and managing our emotions can be a formidable challenge.

The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the profound significance and comfort in the minutiae – and how we may drive solace from it, because every detail serves to advance our plot. 

For context, "It's all for the plot" is a phrase often used in storytelling, particularly in movies, TV shows, books, and other forms of fiction. The phrase means that everything that happens in the story, including the actions of the characters, the events that occur, and the various plot twists and turns, is all designed to serve the larger narrative or storyline.

In other words, the phrase suggests that the various elements of the story are not arbitrary or random, but are carefully crafted and planned to advance the plot (intentionally) and create a cohesive and compelling narrative. It implies that the story's creators have a specific vision or goal in mind and are using all of the different elements of the story to bring that vision to life.

It is a reminder that every detail and every event in a story is there for a reason, and that the audience should trust that the storyteller knows what they are doing and has a clear plan for how the story will unfold.

What I am saying is that, life imitates art – it is all for the plot. If we spend our lives in autopilot, we are not making decisions intentionally, and therefore are not in alignment. We must be present in our story to carefully craft and plan to advance the plot on our own terms. Now we can discover, and develop, and execute, but how do we maintain, adapt, and co-evolve with our intuition?

How can we sustain a sense of presence, rootedness, and introspect on our congruence – our alignment?

The answer is as simple as perpetual awareness of what is going on in our story, being present. There are 5 key elements to every story: 

1. Plot

2. Setting 

3. Characters 

4. Point of View

5. Conflict 

Our stories make us who we are. 

Plot

The plot is the events or actions that drive our story — it describes the “what” of our tale. The intention. Things need to happen for that “what” to be defined. Are we living in a passive state or do we have active control over our time and energy? 

How do we feel about what is going around us? Are we grateful even on a “bad” day? Are we proud of the life (the “what”) we have built for ourselves? Are we devoting ourselves to our curiosity? Are we obsessed with our objectives? 

We must reevaluate our intention. We’re not in alignment, if the “what” around us doesn’t fit our internal desires causing emotional growing pains. Have we settled on the desires and objectives we had when we were 17? Do we feel stuck? 

Setting

The setting of our story is both the physical location and temporal context in which our plot takes place.

If we are in alignment, we are situated in the ideal physical location at the appropriate point in time in our life, be it year, month, day, hour, or minute. This typically arises when we follow our intuition and set clear intentions. We gravitate toward where we naturally get positive value. We are where we are out of conscious choice, not chance.

We might be uncertain about the direction of our life, but we are not rationalizing or justifying our present circumstances. Confusion is constructive, indicative of active questioning and self-reflection.

Some questions to ascertain whether we are in a conducive environment – Are our surroundings stimulating and inspiring? Do we have a safe space where we can be unapologetically ourselves? Are we doing what we want to be doing right now, right here, at this moment? 

Characters

The characters in our story should play a pivotal role in fostering alignment in our life. These characters can be anyone or anything, from human beings to animals, fictional beings, or even personified objects, that propel our story forward.

To ensure that our characters are aligned with our goals, we should consider their appeal and how they influence our success. Do they inspire us to push ourselves beyond our limits? Do they normalize success and make us feel capable of achieving our dreams? Are we in an environment that reinforces this sense of inevitability?

We should assess whether we are the main character of our stories, and whether we are prioritizing our needs or constantly pleasing others. We must take stock of the individuals in our life, both old and new, and evaluate whether they support our journey towards alignment. Do they inspire us to become a better version of ourselves? Do they challenge us to grow and evolve? Are they creating a safe, non-judgmental space where we can learn and thrive?

If we are not in alignment, we may find ourselves stuck in a rut, surrounded by the same characters in the same location for years. Conversely, if we are in alignment, the characters in our life should make us feel valued, understood, and heard. They should create a nurturing environment where we can flourish and become the best version of ourselves, making our success feel inevitable.

Point of View (POV) 

The way we perceive our life and the POV we choose can greatly affect our alignment. The POV we choose can help shape our entire story. There are several different POVs to consider. In a story, the most common are first person, second person, and third person.

We must question, whose POV are we looking at our life through? Is it our own? our parents'? our friends'? our partner's? our boss'? Perception is reality. The way we see things affects how we live your life. It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about what others think of us. But the truth is, everyone is too busy living their own life and focusing on their own journey. 

It is important to be ourselves and not worry about impressing others by pretending to be someone we’re not. We are in control of our POV and perception, which ultimately shapes our reality. Use it wisely. 

Conflict

The conflict is the big problem of the story. What is our main character (we) trying to overcome? That is the conflict. It comes in many different forms, but will almost always involve an antagonist of sorts. There can be one major conflict in our story at a time, or our characters may encounter several throughout the tale. But more than likely there is one big theme driving the major conflict. So, what does that look like? There are different types of conflicts we may see, but the most common are character vs self, character vs character, character vs nature, and character vs society.

In any story, conflict is the driving force that keeps the plot moving forward. The same holds true in our own lives as well. Conflict can help us get in alignment by highlighting what we truly value and what we are willing to fight for.

When we encounter conflict in our lives, it can take many different forms. It can be a struggle with our own internal beliefs or a clash with someone else's values. It can also be a challenge posed by nature or societal norms that we are expected to conform to.

Regardless of the form it takes, the conflict in our lives can help us get in alignment by forcing us to examine our own priorities and values. When we are faced with a challenge, we must decide how important it is to us and what we are willing to do to overcome it. This process can reveal our true passions and help us determine what is most important in our lives.

For example, if someone is faced with a conflict at work where they are being asked to compromise their values, it may force them to consider what they truly believe in and what they are willing to stand up for. If their values are not aligned with those of their workplace, they may need to consider finding a new job that better aligns with their beliefs.

Similarly, if someone is faced with a conflict with a friend or family member, it may force them to consider how important that relationship is to them and what they are willing to do to repair it. This can help them get in alignment with their own priorities and values, and ultimately lead to stronger relationships.

Conflict can be a powerful tool for getting in alignment in our lives. By forcing us to examine our values and priorities, it can help us make decisions that are more in line with our true intention. Whether it is a conflict with ourselves, others, nature, or society, we can use it as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and become more aligned with our true selves.

You are in control of your plot.

This essay is 17/50 of my 50 days of learning. Subscribe to hear about new posts.