The One Pattern That Stops Your Story From Landing (And How to Fix It)

You know that sinking feeling when you’re sharing your story—maybe on a podcast, from a stage, or in your about page—and it just… doesn’t land?
People nod politely. They smile. But you can feel it: they’re not moved.

Here’s the truth that most speakers and entrepreneurs don’t realize—
your story isn’t falling flat because it isn’t powerful.
It’s falling flat because you’re telling it in a way your audience’s brain can’t feel.

The Pattern: Logic Before Emotion

Most people make the same storytelling mistake: they start with logic instead of emotion.

They lead with the timeline. The facts. The “how I got here.”

It sounds something like this:
“I left corporate, started my business, and now I help women find confidence through storytelling.”

There’s nothing wrong with that.
But it’s missing the heartbeat.

Because people don’t connect to your journey—they connect to your feelings inside that journey.

When you lead with logic, your audience’s brain stays in analysis mode. They’re thinking about your story, not feeling it.
And when emotion isn’t activated, trust doesn’t form, and memory doesn’t stick.

In psychology, we call this emotional dissonance—when a story doesn’t align with how it makes us feel.
And that’s exactly what stops your story from landing.

The Fix: Truth Before Triumph

If you want your story to land, flip the order.
Tell the truth before the triumph.

Start where it hurt.
Start where it felt impossible.
Start where you didn’t have the answer yet.

That’s the moment your audience’s mirror neurons activate. Their brain literally syncs with yours. They stop evaluating you and start experiencing you.

Try this shift:

Before:
“I started my business because I wanted freedom.”

After:
“I started my business because I was exhausted—doing everything ‘right,’ but feeling completely disconnected from my own life.”

The second one pulls your audience in emotionally.
They see themselves in your struggle. And once they feel connected, then they’re ready for your success.

The Psychology Behind It

Here’s what’s really happening under the surface:

• Emotional memory forms faster than factual memory.
  When your audience feels your story, their brain stores it in the emotional centers tied to empathy and recall.

• Emotion builds credibility.
  Vulnerability signals honesty. The brain interprets it as safety, not weakness.

• Stories told with emotional rhythm (tension and release) mimic the body’s natural stress-and-relief cycle.
  That’s why people remember great speakers long after they’ve forgotten the details—they’ve experienced a physiological journey with them.

How to Rewrite Your Story So It Sticks

1. Find your “turning point moment.”
   What was the instant everything changed—the moment you decided you couldn’t keep doing things the same way?
   That’s where your story starts.

2. Name the emotion, not just the event.
   “I was terrified.” “I was angry.” “I felt like a fraud.”
   These aren’t signs of weakness; they’re emotional anchors.

3. Bridge emotion to meaning.
   Show how what you felt led to what you learned. That’s where your credibility lives.

4. Close with the transformation.
   Now you can show the success, not as the hero’s victory—but as the audience’s hope.

A Real Example

Let’s say you’re a confidence coach.

❌ Logic-first version:
“I teach women how to build confidence using proven mindset tools.”

✔️ Emotion-first version:
“There was a time I couldn’t look in the mirror without criticizing everything I saw. Confidence didn’t come from mantras—it came from understanding my story. Now, I help women rewrite theirs.”

See the difference?
One explains.
The other connects.

If your story isn’t landing, it’s not because you’re not good at telling it.
It’s because you’re protecting yourself from being felt.

People don’t buy your success.
They buy your sincerity.

They buy the moment they see themselves in you—and believe that their story could have a new ending, too.

Because when you tell the truth before the triumph, your story doesn’t just land.
It lingers.

If you’re ready to stop telling your story like a résumé and start telling it like a revelation, I can help.
In my 1:1 Story Mining Intensives and Keynote Writing Sessions, I combine behavioral psychology and storytelling strategy to help you craft a message that moves people—and converts them.

Your story deserves to be felt, not just heard.
Let’s make it unforgettable.