Storytelling

A Universal Language

As far back as I can remember, I used to always carry a notebook and a pen with me. They were my trusted friends, who would work diligently to enable me to express my feelings and articulate what was on my mind, so that I could become consciously aware of my unconsciousness.  

As a child I had not heard of journaling. I didn't know then that this is a well known tool for emotional awareness and identification of one's patterns and life experiences. Whenever I felt overcome by a set of experiences for myself or others, I would reach out for a pen and paper. I would transcribe my pain or pleasure through the ink that would glide effortlessly on paper. I would escape into another world of inclusion and possibilities.

This habit helped me add in perspectives, leading to developing a fuller understanding of my experiences. I learnt that our minds put together bits and pieces of events into a story, because we have a need to see the bigger picture. To give information a greater meaning, to create a narrative or perhaps to get closure. Stories engage our emotions and can be powerful enough to influence our behavior and drive actions. For me, stories make tough themes accessible. I have been inspired or influenced by many stories, whilst others have helped me see life through a holistic lens.

Often my friends and family would ask me to tell them a story, because I was able to recall events and characters with all the details and trimmings. I obliged with pleasure! What I loved most about sharing stories was the discussion or the debate that followed suit. I shared the story simply as an ignition to hear different perspectives. With every different view a deeper understanding developed for me and suddenly, “we”, collectively found a common ground. We were drawn together and were willing to share more of ourselves. 

All people know about stories and through processing some of the emotions, it brings us together and cuts through defensive barriers. It helps us convey complex ideas and concepts in a way that is easy to understand. We find ourselves saying: 

 “I am not alone!”

 “There are others with a similar experience to mine, same struggle or challenges”.

As I write and share my stories, my aim and wish is for you to draw on your experiences and consider potential possibilities or scenarios. I hope to create a pleasurable struggle between your expectations and your reality, in order to tap into your imagination and conclude it. In this journey, I, too, learn as you share how different stories resonate differently for you depending on your values, beliefs, life experiences and cultural influences.

Stories bring us together. 

Stories are the blood of life.

• Personal:

  • How does sharing a personal story build rapport & trust?

  • Think of a story that motivated you? What made that particular story inspirational for you?

  • What is the story you often find yourself in, a narrative that repeats over time?

• Parenting

  • What was the lesson you learned as a child that you could translate to your children via a story?

• Organization

  • What are some of the stories that can be told about the success of your organization?

  • What is the role of storytelling as a leadership skill in the workplace?

  • How can storytelling be leveraged in different scenarios at work?

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.”

-St Robert McAfee Brown