Stories for millennia have imparted something special to their listeners. Some call this wisdom, some call it history, while others call it archetypes. Archetypes are small pieces of information that our brain absorbs through the use of symbols. This is done by listening to a story and visually painting images that create scenarios that inform us to understand the particulars of human nature. To some extent, we also achieve these through empathizing with the characters of a story and their trials.
Through this process, we can understand how storytelling can be a useful tool in everyday life. Giving us the potential to create scenarios that might solve some of our dilemmas. For this reason, storytelling is important to me, as it should move you to see the importance for you and the possibilities to help you on this journey called life. This is what this blog post is about – the effects that storytelling can have. Nothing in my academic understanding prepared me to go through a transformation in thought, feeling, and interaction with the world. I asked myself how did storytelling do this?
They don’t tell you that stories imbed themselves in you. They don’t tell you that through your exploration of telling them, you have consequently lived through the eyes, and life experiences of another culture or person. This might sound like a fantasy but as fantastic as stories can be they are based on simple situations that we all find ourselves in. You just don’t know it, but I call to you, step out as if you were on a cliff for the first time, and know that it will be okay, if you are worried or scared or maybe have some doubts about what a story can do for you. I promise you that only beautiful self-discoveries await.
Stories have changed me. In times of sadness, they have caused me to perk up and live. Through times of stress, they have taken me to different times and places that have allowed me to think clearly once again. In times of trial, they have opened doors to solutions. Remember that throughout history stories have been used by all civilizations. Reminding us that what we experience is universal, and if others have yet to experience what you have, you have the power to tell it so that we as a collective may learn from it. All this is available to you if you care to listen, or maybe you care to tell one. Whatever calls to you, you will find something special in storytelling.
The picture at the top, "Man standing on a pillar of kaibab limestore on the rim of the canyon near grandview point. Grca 14738. Circa 1899," can be found here.
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