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

Posted on by Wynne Leon

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. I know you’ll love it.

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Search (and subscribe!) for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Apple, Amazon, Spotify or Pocket Casts OR Listen to on Anchor Episode 49: Six-Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson

Transcript for Episode 49 of the podcast

Links for this Episode:

Episode 49: Six Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson on Anchor

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

13 thoughts on “Episode 49: Six-Word Stories with Dr. Victoria Atkinson”

  4. This is the first time I’ve heard about six word stories. I’ll have to check out Larry Smith’s work. Describing one’s life in six words would be a challenge. I appreciate that as a therapist Vicki didn’t adopt a one size fits all approach, but has found a tool that has helped many.

    Wow! “She wore her regret like armor.” So much meaning in just a few words.

    This technique me think of writing a blurb or query letter and trying to take a novel and reduce it to one page or a few paragraphs. It makes the writer concentrate on what is the essence of their story.

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    2. So sorry I missed this great comment, Pete! I love that you feel the starkness of that six word story about Sue’s armor. And your example of being concise in something like a query letter is perfect — you’re right! It really forces the writer to boil down to an essence, eh? Thank you so much! 🥰

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  5. I very much enjoyed this podcast. –6 words! (How did no one else do that? I thought it would be a given!)

    Seriously, though, this is good stuff. I loved the Mark Twain quote, which sums this up so nicely. The “inside hurt or outside hurt” from Wynne is great. The story of throwing out the Christmas tree is hilarious. How freeing!

    Meditation and the importance of breathing was mentioned a couple of times. I need to look into that more, I think. (I should’ve attempted it with Wynne when I had the chance!)

    I also made these notes to myself while listening:
    Emotions you’ve got to name it to tame it. Excellent! Have to synthesize the thoughts into the “cleanest truest reflection of what I’m feeling.” I love that because in doing so, you have to reflect so much on what you’re feeling and process it. I can remember as a kid having a fleeting negative emotion at times and forcing myself to go back and remember what caused that sudden surge of sadness, or whatever. Then I would sit with it for a while until it became okay. I could accept it, deal with it, and move on. The power of it was then gone.

    I try to do that now too, but I forget one thought as soon as the next one arrives. The one I had a second go is already gone. 🤪

    Anyhow, great podcast, ladies! 🙂

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    1. What an incredible comment, Betsy. It is so helpful to know what resonates! Otherwise we’re just yakking it up!

      And your story about feelings coming in too fast and furious to sit with one and be done before the next – oh boy, I can relate!

      But I’m wondering how you take notes when you are brushing your teeth? 🙂

      Truly – thank you so much for the great comment that is so helpful! XOXO!

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      1. Clearly you’re going to lose sleep if I don’t answer that massive existential question: I take notes by pausing the podcast and emailing myself. 🙂

        Keep on, keeping on, ladies. You’re doing great! I love learning new insights from you both. 🙂 ❤

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