Story Work: Unearth Your Stories. Live Fully Alive.
Story work is the ongoing practice of gathering the tiny stories from your life and treating each one like a personal artifact—something you can pick up, rotate, and view from different angles.
Every story holds meaning, and every meaning can be used: some will help you invite more aliveness, joy, or purpose; others will guide you in releasing old wounds, fears, or pain. Think of them as personal guides—each story offering exactly what you need, precisely when you need it.
Explore the tools, programs, and practices below to start your story work journey—at whatever pace feels right for you.
Engage with the Stories That Matter: Free Tools, Practices, and Programs to Start Your Journey Today.
🔍 Observe ・ ⚓️ Document ・ 📝 Express ・ 💌 Connect ・ 💫 Cultivate
The DGS 5-Part Practice came from my desire to soak up every bit of life—to to pay attention to my experiences—not look back and feel like I missed it. Life can move so fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness, skimming the surface of what really matters.
Story work became my way of slowing down, noticing more, and engaging deeply with the moments and people that mean the most. In fact, fully processing my stories has been a cathartic, enlivening tool—one that’s grounded me, sparked new insights, offered much-needed closure, and connected me more deeply to myself and others.
In 2017, I began sharing this process with others, helping them engage with their stories in ways that sparked healing, joy, and clarity. These five elements—Observe, Document, Express, Connect, and Cultivate—invite you to engage intentionally with your stories, so you can live boldly awake and aligned with what matters most.
The DGS
5-Part Practice
The Practice Overview:
🔍 Observe: Notice the small stories unfolding around you every day.
⚓️ Document: Anchor meaningful stories through journaling, photography, or conversations.
📝 Express: Use your stories to share truth, heal, or spark change.
💌 Connect: Deepen relationships by sharing the stories that matter.
💫 Cultivate: Make story work a rhythm that keeps you engaged with what matters most.
explore the 5-Part Practice
Click on each element below to learn more and discover how it can help you cultivate meaning, connection, and purpose in your life.
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Take inventory. Notice the tiny stories in your life. Some may feel light and playful; others heavier or difficult to carry. Pay attention to patterns, themes, and emotional undercurrents. Observation is the gentle act of noticing without judgment—simply becoming aware of what’s there.
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Anchor your meaningful stories by documenting them thoughtfully—for yourself or as part of the legacy you’ll leave behind. Documentation can take many forms—writing, photography, video journaling, and more. It’s not about clinging to memories but creating a personal catalogue of stories that remain accessible whenever you need their guidance.
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Some stories will guide you toward healing, while others spark joy or create new opportunities.
Your most meaningful stories can be put on subtle display—a photo, note, or memento in your space to offer comfort, focus, or inspiration.
Others may need to be fully expressed through journaling, letter-writing, or heartfelt conversations—wringing your heart out to express your truth and release what no longer serves you.
The toughest stories can be re-integrated with professional support, like EMDR therapy.
Bottom line: the expression element is where meaning becomes action.
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Not all stories are meant to be kept to yourself. Some are meant to be shared—to offer connection, understanding, and insight. Shared stories spark new ones, creating ripple effects. Just as your stories can shape someone else’s journey, theirs can enrich yours, creating an exchange of guidance, wisdom, and belonging.
Some stories invite you to reconnect with the people who’ve shaped you—whether in big ways or small. It’s about saying, “I see you,” or, “Thank you for the moment. Thank you for the lesson. Thank you for the story.” Let those connections nurture your relationships with intention.
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Story work isn’t just about reflecting on the past—it’s about crafting new, meaningful stories for yourself and with the people who matter most. Repurpose past stories to guide intentional living—whether through a small nod to a meaningful detail, finding closure, or refocusing on what makes you feel alive. With story work, you create a life filled with meaning and purpose, one day at a time.
Free Tools & Resources
Guided Programs to Deepen Your Story Work & daily living
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How I Use Story Work in My Life
(A Personal Note)
Dear reader,
Story work is the rhythm that keeps me grounded. It reminds me of the good stuff in life and nudges me to meet the hard stuff with compassion. It helps me celebrate the life I’ve already lived and keeps me focused on what matters most, cutting through the noise that just doesn’t matter.
When life feels heavy, I turn to story work to make sense of it all. Some stories get placed on the shelf until I’m ready to revisit them. Other times, I write to access my thoughts and process emotions like grief or feeling wronged. Story work helps to clear and renew my soul.
Some stories I come back to again and again because I love them so much. They spark joy and act as guides, pointing me toward the things I want more of in my life. I intentionally sprinkle these stories into my day-to-day as gentle reminders to focus on what makes me feel alive.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as preserving a story through a photo or note, giving me a return ticket to a moment that would otherwise be lost. This brings a sense of closure in the best way—knowing I paid attention to the experience wholeheartedly.
Through story work, I reconnect with myself, heal in unexpected ways, and feel more aligned with my values. It’s my personal guide to a life that’s both messy and meaningful—and it helps me honor both the light and heavy stories that shape me.
Take Notice; Respond boldly,
-Marie Masse