Finding Authenticity: Discovering What You Truly Want and Crafting Coherent Alternate Histories

Finding Authenticity: Discovering What You Truly Want and Crafting Coherent Alternate Histories

In Western popular culture, we are often taught from a young age to model and emulate certain behaviors. Family and cultural traditions can dictate what is expected of us throughout life, particularly among women, which can lead to anxiety when those benchmarks aren't reached. We internalize societal events like graduating from college or getting married as desirable, and thus feel pressured to fit into a predetermined mold or fear being alienated when we deviate from convention.

But instead of asking ourselves the question, "What do you want out of life?" which only perpetuates external measurements and societal expectations, we should be asking a different question altogether. According to author and speaker Robin Sharma, the question should be, "What do I enjoy about life?" By shifting our focus to what brings us joy and fulfillment, we can move forward in a more authentic manner.

When making important life decisions, it is crucial to understand the motivations behind our choices and the fears that may be influencing us. If you and your partner are contemplating marriage, for example, it is important to reflect on what shaped your views of marriage. Did your parents constantly fight, leading to a fear that your own marriage might be mired in conflict? Or do you want to get married simply because all your friends are doing so and you feel left out? By having answers to these questions, you can navigate your decisions more authentically.

In a world filled with societal expectations and "shoulds," there is little room for improvisation. We are often given limited roadmaps for the future, making certain life events seem nonnegotiable. But to truly find meaning in our lives, we must delve deeper into our motivations and question the inevitability of certain events. As associate psychology professor Daryl Van Tongeren explains, people conform their behaviors to gain acceptance. We often go along with what others are doing because we want to fit in and be liked. However, it's important to remember that our self-worth shouldn't be measured by external validation.

Similarly, in the realm of alternate history writing, authors often make mistakes that hinder the coherence and believability of their stories. When creating an alternate universe with a counterfactual history, it is easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of the relationships between characters. Concentrating too much on one changed event, without considering the events that led up to it, can hinder the overall narrative. To create a truly compelling alternate history, we must bring it up to the present and make readers question the inevitability of real historical events.

Authors of alternate history often fail to recognize that some historical developments were likely inevitable. To create a significant change, one must go back much further in history than just altering a major event. Ignoring important historical factors, even if they don't directly impact the story, can also diminish the authenticity of the alternate history. It is crucial to make judgments about which historical points to pursue and which to let go, while still acknowledging the importance of contemporarily relevant details.

Another common mistake in alternate history writing is failing to account for the ripples that would result from a major change. These ripples can have ripples of their own, and authors must pay attention to the near misses and almost-happened events in real history. Mixing up urban legends with actual history can also lead to inaccuracies in the alternate history, as people tend to assume they know things about the past that are actually folk-history and incorrect.

Assuming that nothing will change besides one major alteration, or that everything will change, are equally flawed approaches. It is unrealistic to think that absolutely nothing will change apart from one historical event, just as assuming the world will be completely different in every detail is implausible. Authors must strike a balance between continuity and change to create a believable alternate history.

In the pursuit of a good story, authors may be tempted to make the narrative go where they want it to go, regardless of whether the altered history can plausibly support it. While breaking rules can be done in service of a good story, it is important to ensure that the story remains coherent and makes sense within the context of the altered history.

Explaining too much can also detract from the impact of an alternate history story. Authors may feel the need to showcase their research and include every detail they discovered, but this can overwhelm readers and detract from the storytelling. Finding a balance between explaining the pertinent details of the time-shift and integrating them organically is a challenge that authors must navigate.

Ultimately, the key to creating a compelling alternate history lies in telling a good story with interesting characters. While the allure of creating a new world and exploring "what if" scenarios is enticing, without relatable characters and a story worth telling, the alternate history falls flat. Just as Pixar focuses on characters rather than pop culture references, authors must remember that they are creating a world with characters who have motivations similar to those in our own reality.

In conclusion, finding authenticity in our own lives and crafting coherent alternate histories require similar considerations. By questioning societal expectations and understanding our own motivations, we can live more authentically. In alternate history writing, it is crucial to strike a balance between continuity and change, while also focusing on creating compelling characters and telling a captivating story. To apply these insights to our own lives, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

• 1. Reflect on your motivations: When making important life decisions, take the time to understand the reasons behind your choices. Are you following societal expectations or pursuing what truly brings you joy and fulfillment?

• 2. Embrace the ripple effects: Consider the potential consequences and ripples that may result from your decisions. By acknowledging the interconnectedness of events, you can make more informed choices and create a more coherent narrative in your own life.

• 3. Focus on characters and storytelling: In both life and alternate history writing, the heart of the matter lies in the characters and the stories we tell. Cultivate meaningful relationships and strive to create a compelling narrative that resonates with others.

By incorporating these insights and taking action, we can find authenticity in our own lives and craft alternate histories that are both coherent and captivating. Whether it's navigating societal expectations or creating new worlds on paper, the key lies in understanding our motivations, embracing change, and focusing on the power of storytelling.