The hidden pattern in every great story, and why it matters for your life

I love a good fiction novel.

But we don’t read great novels for the plot twists or dramatic events.

We read them because they show us something true about ourselves.

They show us how a character’s (mis)beliefs about life are tested, broken, or reinforced as they navigate difficulty. And we see ourselves in these characters.

Lisa Cron, in her book Story Genius, explains that compelling fiction works because it mirrors what we’re all living: our own story of moving through the world with misbeliefs that either evolve or calcify us.

And in this, there’s a strong hint at what is good for us. We’re drawn to stories in which a character changes and overcomes their misbeliefs about life.

It makes sense to us because we recognise the need for it ourselves.