I’ve been watching a lot of Christmas films lately. Not unusual for this time of year. There’s something about them that just works, no matter how many times you’ve seen them. You know the endings, you know the characters, yet somehow they still hit the mark.

The thing is, they all follow similar story arcs. Whether it’s the Grinch up in his cave, Kevin defending his home, or someone trying to save Christmas, the pattern is there. And for some reason, we love it.

It’s got me thinking about why these stories work so well and what happens to us when we hear them. We already know the ending (it’s a Christmas film, after all), but we’re hooked by the journey. Part of that is down to narrative bias. Our brains naturally prefer stories with a clear start, middle, and satisfying end. Even if life is rarely that tidy, stories give us that structure and we can’t help but feel good about it.

Take Scrooge, for example. The ultimate transformation. He starts off miserable and ends up handing out turkeys and dancing in the street. It’s a simple story of redemption and one that works every time. Why? Because we like seeing people, businesses or ideas change for the better. Psychologically, it taps into our belief in growth and possibility. We root for the change we want to see in ourselves.

Then there’s Elf. Buddy arrives in New York, full of joy, and helps everyone rediscover what Christmas is about. That’s a lost spirit arc, where people find the spark they thought was gone. It works because it reminds us that wonder and joy are often just hidden, not lost forever.

Or the chaos arc: Home Alone, The Santa Clause, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Everything goes wrong, but somehow it all comes good in the end. Those are the moments we recognise, especially when work gets frantic. Our brains love this because it reinforces another bias, the optimism bias. No matter how chaotic things get, we want to believe it will all work out. In the movies, it always does.

The point is, there’s a reason these stories keep us coming back. On some level, they make us feel something. A bit of hope, maybe. A sense of familiarity. They are comforting because we know how they’ll end, but we still want to see it play out.

And when you think about it, the same thing happens in business. The stories we tell about what we do, how we do it, and why it matters are not that different. Sometimes we’re the helper, like Arthur Christmas. Sometimes we’re fixing chaos, like Home Alone. Sometimes we’re the Grinch with a change of heart.

So, if you find yourself watching The Holiday for the fifth time this week, or mouthing along to lines from The Muppet Christmas Carol, ask yourself: what’s your favourite arc? And maybe even, what’s the story you’re telling?

It’s not a challenge or a lesson. Just something to think about as the year winds down and we all try to get some breathing space.

I’ll be back to whatever green and red covered hallmark film is top of the list and a box of Quality Street if anyone needs me.