“I believe most of us tell a story about our lives and then come to live within that story,” wrote New York Times columnist David Brooks yesterday. “You can’t know who you are unless you know how to tell a coherent story about yourself. You can know what to do next only if you know what story you are a part of.”
Brooks made that observation after reflecting on Elon Musk’s childhood as described in Walter Isaacson’s new biography. Musk was apparently verbally and physically abused by his father and bullied as a child, and the suggestion was made Musk wrote a new story of his life to overcome these obstacles.
From where did Musk draw this story?
Brooks shared how Musk found solace in science fiction and video games with heroes and villains. He writes, “The story Musk came to inhabit is one of the oldest in our civilization: A male hero of uncertain reputation emerges from an obscure place to save a doomed people through acts of daring. It is the story of Moses, Jesus, Superman, John Wayne westerns, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings.”
What story do you tell about yourself? Has it ever changed, or been updated? In the story, do you have a purpose or positive role to play in your community? Regardless of our opinion of Elon Musk, these are insightful questions Isaacson’s book can prompt in his readers.
On Emotions 