Exercise 3: Writing Your Origin Story

Called for Adventure: 12 Exercises to Discover and Live Your Life’s Calling

Exercise 3: Writing Your Origin Story

(Called for Adventure: 12 Exercises to Discover and Live Your Life’s Calling)

This is part of a 12-exercise journey to help you discover and live your life’s calling. Each exercise builds on the last, but they’re designed so you can jump in at any point.

If you missed the earlier exercises, you can catch up here:

• Exercise 1: Committing to the Process

• Exercise 2: Naming Your Big Story

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The Power of Origin Stories

Our calling is shaped not just by where we’re going—but by where we came from.

We intuitively understand this when it comes to our favorite heroes. From Superman to Dorothy to Luke Skywalker to Wonder Woman, we’re familiar with their origin stories. Their beginnings help us understand the remarkable reality of where they ended up.

You, too, have an origin story.

And even if you were never handed a lightsaber or the keys to an invisible jet, where you’ve ended up is no less remarkable.

At some point, you left a “normal” world to follow a desire for adventure. The journey changed you. It made you.

Crafting your origin story is a way of honoring where you came from—and giving shape to the story you’re still living.

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The Story Spine

I like to use the Story Spine, popularized by Pixar, to help people uncover their origin story.

It’s a simple structure that allows you to frame your journey clearly and powerfully:

Once upon a time…
Every day…
Until one day…
Because of that…
Because of that…
Because of that…
Until finally…

By simply taking a few minutes to fill in these blanks, you can begin to tell your story in a refreshing and succinct way.

And note—you actually have multiple origin stories. You are nuanced and complicated. This exercise isn’t about capturing everything. It’s about learning to name and tell one true story that has shaped who you are today.

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My Example

Here’s what it looks like for me:

Once upon a time I was working as a pastor.
Every day I would do my best to do my work, but I was conflicted and starting to feel depressed about my career.
Until one day my wife enrolled me in The Second City improv classes to try to cheer me up.
Because of that I learned that improv opened a door to me to a whole new world.
Because of that I landed some jobs doing comedy on the Las Vegas Strip, quitting my job at the church.
Because of that, my career path completely opened up for me to become an actor, storyteller, and writer.
Until finally, I found a career that fit more consistently with my personality, beliefs, and skill set.

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Your Work

This exercise has two parts. Take your time with it.

Part 1: Identify Your “Once Upon a Time”

Open your journal and write this at the top of a new page:
“When things were completely different than now.”

Then make a simple list of as many distinct seasons of your life as you can remember—times when your world felt different than it does today. Don’t overthink it. Just write.

Here’s what my list might look like:

• An only child playing in the woods of Kentucky

• A religious teenager ready to save the world for Jesus

• A young preacher doubting his faith with a new family

• An actor in Los Angeles

• A movie producer

• Leading a worldwide leadership organization but feeling empty and depressed

Once you’ve made your list, take a breath and read it over.

Now choose one season to work with today. Pick whichever one seems most interesting, most formative, or simply the one that feels right to explore. (You can’t do this wrong.)

This is your “Once upon a time…” moment that you will start with today.

Part 2: Write Your Origin Story Using the Story Spine

Take 10–15 minutes to write out your origin story using the Story Spine. Choose the story from your list that shaped you in a lasting way.

In your journal, copy down and complete these prompts:

• Once upon a time… (this is the season you just decided on)

• Every day… (list some things you did everyday back then)

• Until one day… (one day something changed. it can be something that happened to you and/or something that happened inside you)

• Because of that… (something happened first after everything began to change)

• Because of that… (because that thing happened, something else happened)

• Because of that… (and because of that, something else happened)

• Until finally… (this is where you ended up today or at the end of this season of your life)

You can have as many “because of that” lines as you need, but for a clear, succinct story, try limiting it to three to six.

Keep it simple and honest. Don’t overthink your wording—just get the story down.

You actually have many origin stories, but starting with one will help you articulate the arc of your journey and begin to see how your past is pointing toward your calling.

Feeling bold? Share your rough draft origin story in the comments below so the rest of us can cheer you on.

There’s real power in naming your story publicly—it often helps you believe it even more.

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Why This Is Free

In this series, I’m giving away my very best content—the same material I use in paid workshops and coaching. These exercises work. They’re the culmination of my life’s work and experience, and I’m offering them to you for free because I want you to find your calling.

That said, I have real financial needs. This work takes time and energy, and part of how I support myself is through the generosity of this community.

If you’re able, I’d ask you to consider supporting my work financially—either by becoming a paid subscriber or giving what feels right to you on Venmo. My gamble is simple: that you’ll see the value in what I’m sharing and choose to support it.