The Grinch and us.
Yesterday I went out for a short walk and, with a mix of disbelief and horror, I saw the Christmas lights already installed in my small village. Lights that, by the way, are the first year they’ve ever put up. I felt almost betrayed. How is it possible that in this sleepy little village, where nothing ever happens and nothing should ever happen, someone decided to put up Christmas lights in November? And while walking under those lights, that familiar feeling returned, the one that comes back every year and grows stronger each time. I call it my state of Grinchitude.
Grinchitude is the fusion of “Grinch” and “attitude”: that mildly irritated, quietly sarcastic mood that surfaces when something shows up too early, too loudly, too fake.
Yes, I’m on the Grinch’s side. Always have been, and this is exactly why today I want to talk to you about the Grinch’s Hero’s Journey. Because understanding whether we’re feeling more Grinch or more “something luminous” isn’t a seasonal whim. It’s a way to understand how we relate to others, to emotions and to the way we communicate.
The Grinch as an imperfect hero
The Grinch doesn’t start out as a hero. He doesn’t accept the call to adventure, he doesn’t want to change, he doesn’t recognise himself in the celebration that everyone else loves. His journey begins in resistance.
And that’s already a lesson: transformation doesn’t always begin with enthusiasm. It often begins with fatigue, irritation, or the instinct to protect yourself.
The Grinch shows us that even those who start from a place of closure can undergo a powerful arc of transformation. And that the most interesting stories are often the ones where the hero doesn’t want to be a hero at all.
The Grinch’s Hero’s Journey in 12 Steps
1. Ordinary World
He lives in isolation, far from noise. Distance is protection.
2. Call to Adventure
Christmas arrives with its load of lights and music. He reacts with irritation.
3. Refusal of the Call
He doesn’t want to participate. He doesn’t want to feel. He wants to stay invisible.
4. Meeting the Mentor
Cindy Lou Who. The first to see the good under the surface.
5. Crossing the Threshold
The decisive act: stealing Christmas. An action that pushes him into the story.
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
He faces practical tasks and deep fears. His allies are Max and Cindy. The real enemy is his perspective on the world.
7. Approach to the Inmost Cave
At the top of the mountain, he thinks he’s won.
8. Ordeal
The Welcome Christmas song. A moment that cracks his convictions.
9. Reward
He discovers a new truth: the celebration isn’t in the gifts.
10. The Road Back
He returns everything, by choice.
11. Resurrection
He opens up to others. He is welcomed back.
12. Return with the Elixir
He realises joy is not a threat. And that belonging can be learned.
What this journey teaches anyone who needs to present
1. The audience is the hero, not you
The presenter is not the protagonist. The presenter is the mentor: the one who provides tools, vision and guidance. The hero is the listener, with their doubts, curiosity and temporary fragilities. Recognising this changes everything: you’re not there to dazzle, but to accompany. Not to dominate the stage, but to create a space where the audience can see themselves and transform.
2. Resistance is part of the story, not an obstacle
The audience brings fears and resistances with them: fear of wasting time, fear of not understanding, fear of being judged. Sometimes the audience is the Grinch: closed, sceptical, defensive. That’s not a problem. It’s the starting point. A good presentation doesn’t ignore resistance; it approaches it gently, acknowledges it and helps dissolve it.
3. Every presentation has its own “Whos’ song”
In the story, the Whos’ song is the moment that breaks through the Grinch’s shell. Every presentation should have a moment like that: an insight, a phrase, a story, an image that opens an emotional doorway. It’s the point when the audience stops resisting and starts truly listening. It doesn’t need to be spectacular. It needs to be honest, precise and necessary.
4. Transformation is gradual and coherent
People don’t change their minds instantly. They don’t move from resistance to enthusiasm in a minute. And you shouldn’t force it. Your job is to create a path: logical, emotional, sustainable. One step at a time. The audience doesn’t need to arrive at your conclusion. They need to arrive at their own.
5. The elixir is an invitation, not a checklist
At the end of the story, the Grinch doesn’t receive a to-do list. He receives a seat at the table. That’s what the end of a presentation should do: open a space, offer a direction, suggest a gesture. Not impose tasks. Not overload. The audience should feel part of something, not the recipients of obligations.
Those early Christmas lights didn’t improve my day, but they did help me understand something: grinchitude is not rejection. It’s sensitivity. It’s the way our body tells us that something is arriving too soon, too loudly, too intensely.
And the same happens in presentations. Sometimes the audience is more Grinch: resistant, tired, defensive. Sometimes they’re more open, more luminous, more ready to engage.
Communicating well means recognising both sides. Light and resistance. Forward motion and hesitation. The need for space and the desire for connection.
The Grinch reminds us that even a moment of closure can be the beginning of a story. And grinchitude is not a flaw. It’s a signal. A valuable starting point to understand ourselves, the people who listen to us, and the words we choose to open a passage.
I’m Angela. I help people and companies bring their ideas to life through storytelling and presentation design.
I don’t just design slides: I design meaning.
Every day, I work to shape messages not just to inform, but to move.
Because a presentation should never be just a sequence of slides; it should be a shared experience that engages the senses and creates lasting memories.
This post is part of my ongoing exploration of how we can rethink presentations: not as static tools, but as living experiences that connect with people on a deeper level.
If you’d like support designing presentations and stories that move people, feel free to reach out or explore my work.
This article is part of From Page to Stage: a series exploring how the books we read can shape the way we think, communicate and design stories for the stage of business and life.
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