*What’s the last story you told that left people leaning in?*

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: the power of *contrast* in storytelling.

When people think about storytelling, they usually focus on the plot. But *contrast*–the art of showing two opposites–makes stories **stick in the brain** like Velcro.

*Fact:* Our brains love contrast. Think about it: you don’t appreciate sunlight until you’ve been through a storm. That moment when something shifts from high to low–stress to relief, failure to success–is what creates an *emotional pivot* and keeps people engaged. It’s that internal “aha” moment that holds your audience’s attention.

**Try this today:** Next time you’re speaking–whether in a meeting, presentation, or just grabbing lunch with a colleague–*add layers of contrast* to highlight your point.

Instead of saying:
“The project went well, and we hit all our targets.”

Say something like:
“We were on the verge of missing our targets… Then, with just an hour left, we pulled together all the resources we had and hit every single one.”

See the difference? It’s the *