The Power of a Story - Part 1

Yesterday, my son told me it was hard to read a particular book because it was just a lot of words and there was no story. I was caught between sympathizing with him and thinking about all the books I read that do not have a storyline. A good story is powerful.

Human beings are drawn to stories and create stories to understand the world. If I see someone laughing, I will create a story that helps me understand their laughter.

• I am a funny person, and I entertained them!

• I am a loser, and they are mocking my existence.

• I am incompetent and they are laughing at my feeble attempt.

Maybe one of those is true. Perhaps they were laughing at something totally unrelated to me, and all of my story-making was a mistake.

I find myself being drawn into the stories of Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other streaming service out there. I almost feel like I have accomplished something when I finish a series or even just a season of a show because the storyline has been resolved, and meaning has been made. Not all shows are like this, but many draw us in and fuel our need for story.

However, I don’t actually accomplish much after seeing Ted Lasso make a difference in a soccer player’s life even if it feels like it. In reality, I am living a more real and powerful story than any show out there. When I can trace the storyline of my life through significant events, I notice themes and have the ability to choose the next chapter of my story. If you would like to know more about the power of your story, please Contact Us.