Holiday Storytelling Guide: We have no idea what the future holds, connect deeply this holiday.

I’m not trying to project my anxiety about death onto the whole world, but for some reason, it feels like god chose me to be the one constantly aware that today might be the last day of our lives. I’ve tried to fight it, but I can’t. I am always, always aware of how intensely precious each moment is and that nothing is guarenteed.

Sometimes, I see us not fully honoring that preciousness—for example, going through the motions of the holidays as if we have countless more ahead of us. But the truth is, we don’t. That’s why I want to encourage you to make this holiday as meaningful as possible.

Don’t let the holidays be boring when you could be sharing stories with the people you love. It could be moving, surprising, shocking, confusing, and will probably leave you feeling more in love. Sharing your stories and being open to hearing others’ has a magical quality—it helps us feel more connected to ourselves and to each other.

Try it out this holiday season. I’ve put together a couple options so you can facilitate storytelling during your gatherings. If you want a version you can print, enter your email below and I will email it to you.

But can I also put a disclaimer here? If you’re gathering with people you don’t feel comfortable with, you probably don’t want to do this. In that case, I recommend creating your own life map and sharing it with someone you adore later!

OPTION 1: LIFE MAPPING

Life Mapping a beautiful way to reflect, share, and connect with the people you love. Together, you can explore the stories that have shaped your lives and discover new ways to appreciate one another.

What is a life map?

It’s exactly what it sounds like—a visual map of your life.

You will need:

  • A large piece of paper for each participant

  • Colored pencils, pens, or crayons

Step One: Create Your Life Map

  • Set aside at least 30 minutes for this exercise.

  • Starting at the beginning of your life, use simple pictures to draw out your journey. Don’t worry if you’re not artistic—the goal is to reflect, not to create a masterpiece.

Here are some things to include on your map:

  • Turning points

  • Influential people

  • Moments of challenge

  • Moments of celebration

  • Moments you’ll never forget

  • Big choices you made

  • Big choices that were made for you

When you finish your map, step back and take a moment to reflect. Acknowledge the hard moments and the amazing ones. Appreciate yourself for everything you’ve navigated so far.

Step Two: Share Highlights from Your Map

  • Set a timer for each person’s turn, and make sure the timer is not on silent.

  • Agree as a group on an allotted time, such as 3-5 minutes.

  • When the timer goes off, the person sharing should wrap up by either finishing their thought or simply saying, “I can tell you all more later.” This helps keep the activity flowing and ensures everyone gets a chance to share.

  • As someone shares, your only job is to listen:

    • Avoid interrupting or commenting until they’ve finished.

    • Focus on really hearing their story.

  • After they’ve shared, respond simply with, “Thank you for sharing.” Normalize this by having everyone echo the same sentiment to help create a safe and supportive environment.

Note on Conversation Practices

  • If you’d like to follow up with someone after they share, err on the side of formality: Ask questions like, “Can I ask you a question about your story?” or “Do you feel like sharing more? I would love to hear more.”

  • Never share someone else’s story later in the day without their explicit permission.

  • Before starting the activity, ensure everyone agrees to these practices. This helps maintain trust and respect within the group.

This practice creates a safe, supportive space for storytelling and connection. Sharing your life map can be moving, surprising, and deeply meaningful.

By taking the time to reflect and share, you can turn your holiday gathering into a powerful celebration of life’s journeys and the bonds that unite us.

OPTION 2: QUESTION AND ANSWER

Another option if life mapping is too involved is to use the questions below to facilitate a go-around at your gathering. I recommend not doing at the holiday table, so it can be fully voluntary for people who want to join. If your group is the performing type, maybe you want to host an open mic night and have people share. Do what feels right. Here are some questions that I have seen generate some powerful sharing.

THE STORY SHARING GUIDE

Moving from question one to question three, you will get to know the people you are with more.

QUESTION ONE

Share a favorite musical memory. Maybe a moment when music really moved you; or the story of your first concert; or a song that makes you feel nostalgic and why.

QUESTION TWO

When was a time that someone offered an important lesson for you growing up? Who was that person? Tell us about that moment.

QUESTION THREE

When did someone really show up for you in your life? Share about the experience and why it was important to you?

Here are a few more specific questions I’ve recently asked my Dad, and I loved listening to his answers:

Who taught you to ride a bike? Where were you?

What was a memorable family trip you took?

What were the smells in your house growing up, and what made it smell that way?

What was your favorite meal as a kid, and who made it?

Are traditions important to you? Why or why not? If you have any, please share one or two.

Besides your parents, who were the other significant adults in your life when you were a kid? Tell us about them.

This project was brought to you by The Million Person Project (MPP). MPP is a global project about love, storytelling and connecting change makers. We are fascinated by how authentic personal stories can transform a room, a relationship, an organization, or the world. We lead coaching and training sessions all over the globe, and believe that stories create profound connections.

3 TIPS FOR IMPACTFUL STORYTELLING

Show don't tell.

When telling a story, you want to take us back to the moment and show us what was happening. Use images, specific details and emotions. Don't just tell us what happened, show us!

Thank you for sharing.

Storytelling can feel vulnerable. Make it standard that when someone finishes sharing their story you all say, "Thank you for sharing."

Use a timer.

Set a timer and pass it around the table as people share, so the person sharing is in charge of wrapping up their story. Make sure the timer volume is up.

Hi! We are Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen (and that is our kid Roman in the middle). We are the founders of the Million Person Project and we made this guide for you based off our book, How Your Story Sets You Free. If you want more storytelling tools and tips, get your copy.