While most of us may not be on par with Alice Walker, Junot Díaz, or Arundhati Roy, each of us is a natural storyteller in our own way. We all think and speak in narratives, and personal stories comprise roughly 65% of our everyday conversations.
Be it making heads or tails of the latest news or discussions about challenges and successes at work; storytelling sits comfortably at the nexus of each of these examples. Storytelling is a natural process that humans use to make sense of the world. Our brains are hardwired in such a way to understand and retain stories rather than singular facts or random encounters.
Emotional Connections
The most successful leaders and organizations have used storytelling to advance their cause and build a base of supporters, and the reason is rather simple. Since they contain equal parts of science and art, stories have the almost-incredible power of forming an emotional connection with the listener. Be it through moving images or words, these powerful connections are there to stay.
The beauty of telling a compelling story is that it doesn’t require a huge budget or a big production to develop and workshop. At times, props or special effects can take away from the overall narrative. The key here is to have a great story and tell it well. Add some emotion to it so the audience can feel something.
When the message is real and resonates well, the storyteller becomes a beacon of hope and optimism. Leaders like Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. inspired and organized masses to join the Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights Movements by using stories to appeal and connect to our lived experiences.
The Awesome Power of Storytelling
There is a reason why humans have told stories since the dawn of their existence. Whether it’s through art, science, or everyday activities, people want to express themselves and tell their own story— a perspective of life as seen through their own eyes.
From Zora Neale Hurston’s, ”Dust Tracks on a Road,” to Jesmyn Ward’s, ”Sing, Unburied, Sing,” storytelling is what connects us to our own humanity. It is through stories that we can experience the world through the perspectives of different people and pass down values, lessons, and experiences from one person to the next. Stories can also carry visions of a new or transformed world, as was the case with Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have a Dream.”
Self-awareness allows humans to relate better to each other and maximize our potential. Through storytelling, we can hold up a metaphorical mirror to our existence and see it fully— all its joy and pain. Stories are a canvas on which we can depict the world in which we want to live and thrive.
Nothing in this world is more powerful than a story that’s being told, heard, and felt. Good stories can inspire ordinary people to do great things, and change the entire course of history in the process. As Martin Luther King Jr. learned about Gandhi’s Salt March and other nonviolent resistance movements, he was further inspired to join forces with his beloved community, and beyond, and make a lasting difference.
Great Stories Are an Expression of Pure Honesty and Truth
Many indigenous cultures were based on the practice of passing stories down from one generation to the next through religion. Some stories eventually entered the realm of myth and legend, and served as a form of holistic and experiential learning. The practice of storytelling fostered interdependence and these stories stood as the foundation of entire belief systems.
Stories offer us the freedom to share and learn from our cultural or ethnic uniqueness, allowing us to peer into and understand fundamental aspects of our individual and collective existence. Within stories, we can build bridges that honor our shared humanity.
In the end, stories have the power to break down barriers, strengthen bonds, and build mutual trust between people. If you want to learn more about the power of storytelling and experience our Transformative Storytelling methodology, please set up a free consultation with us, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.