Episode 49: Six-Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson

The Sharing the Heart of the Matter podcast is back with its first episode of 2024! This year we are putting special emphasis on the why and how of creativity. We start the season with a special episode with Dr. Vicki Atkinson. We know and love our writing, blogging friend, and podcasting friend Vicki. But of course, dear Vicki has worn a lot of other hats – therapist, professor, college dean, and author. And one of the places where her incredible experience wearing all these hats comes together? Six-word stories. On this podcast we get to learn about the history, benefits and examples of six-word stories from Dr. Victoria Atkinson. We start with Vicki reading a post she wrote about six-word stories as it related to finding forgiveness process for her mom. She gives us the history of these powerful short stories as made popular by writer and publisher, Larry Smith. Vicki tells us about the therapeutic value of forcing this brevity to check in and crystallize thoughts. She gives us a powerful reminder of how we can often feel more in control and on top of things when we package things in ways that feel like we can hold them in our hands. Vicki gives us some wonderful examples of these potent and portable missives from her own life, and those shared by clients and students. She even circles back to one from our recent conversation with Dr. Gerald Stein: “I like to make new mistakes.” Another one of my favorites comes from Vicki’s book, Surviving Sue and is about her mom, “She wore her regret like armor.” That carries the power of Vicki’s example of how crystallizing her thoughts helped her to build empathy and to find her way to forgiveness. This is a great episode that celebrates the clarity that comes when we get quiet, the power that is unlocked when we write it out, and the gateway to growth that is opened when we use tools like six-word stories. We know you’ll love it. Episode 49 show notes Vicki's post: Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Six-Word Style – Victoria Ponders Larry Smith's site: Six-Word Memoirs – One Life, Six Words. What's Yours? (sixwordmemoirs.com) Writing Our Lives in 6 Words | Psychology Today How to Use 6-Word Memoirs in the Classroom | Edutopia Vicki’s personal blog: Victoria Ponders Wynne’s personal blog: Surprised by Joy Vicki’s recently released book: Surviving Sue Wynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith