So many of us are natural storytellers. We do it all the time in conversations (especially in networking environments with strangers), without clocking it as a particular skill and it makes me realise that stories have multiple purposes. Stories help us form our opinions because when we tell someone else what we believe, it consolidates our view of the world. We tell stories to join in with conversations and to entertain people because of our desire for connection and belonging as part of a tribe. That belonging is fundamental to our wellbeing and good head health. And when thinking about mental health, stories also help us make sense of our experiences and process any residual emotions caused by those events. Those stories help us understand ourselves on a deeper level. Counsellors will assure you that all a person needs to return to their best self is for their voice to be heard with unconditional positive regard.
Telling our personal stories in a safe place can become part of our healing journey. However, if we can inject a bit of humour, stories help us not take ourselves too seriously! But what about reading stories? What impact does reading have and why do we encourage children from an early age?
Learning to read, reading to learn
Stories help kids understand the world around them, even if their daily lives are limited to a few places and people that they see. For some children, books are a way to escape; escape from boredom, escape to a fun, fantasy world, or escape from the chores which mum and dad might be asking them to do. As we learn to read, we then start reading more books to learn more. As we get older, studying takes different forms - text books, online resources and the traditional western teachers in classrooms.Â
However, the Western storytelling style is to present a hero’s journey. If you look at American or British films, they centre on conflict between two main characters - a protagonist and antagonist - or the hero overcoming a personal struggle through the storyline. Consider the stories behind Star Wars - Darth Vader versus Luke Skywalker and the Rebellion against the Empire; or Robin Hood with Robin advocating for the poor and standing up to, or stealing from the rich people. These story structures focus on emphasising difference, separation and justice between good and evil. Culturally, they encourage a divide and although our children learn that difference is to be celebrated, they also learn that conflict is inevitable.
Storytelling as a tool for connection and healing
Eastern storytelling focuses on harmony and achieving a win for the greater good. Stories are used to share history and pass down family skills where they work together to grow. The characters are often aligned and the emotions of their journey reflect how they relate to one another more deeply. Think about films like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ where it explores the importance of inner peace and interconnectedness. When reading about that completely different approach, I realised that each of us chooses the learning we do as an adult and the healing we benefit from. Simply through what we choose to read.Â
If you choose dark, criminal psychology thrillers your brain is going to be preoccupied with fear. Unless of course the author has thrown in a healthy dose of humour to balance out the story. I used to love horror, psych thrillers and crime but then I realised I was suffering dark imaginings about the safety of my children! Now I recognise my mindset benefits from reading non-fiction and more uplifting novels; yes, even the light-hearted chick-lit books which make me laugh.
Lighthearted books take you on a healing journey because the characters experience very ordinary life situations and stories are told in a non-threatening way. Our brain learns vicariously through the characters and then processes those emotions to store a memory-file that ‘this type of situation’ can be overcome. So the author becomes a healer and a teacher for the reader.
Re-framing and visualisation
Another powerful benefit of stories is our ability to use them to reframe our perspective. When events happen in our day, we have a choice. We can be grateful for the experience or interaction, and look at what we can learn and gain from it. Or we can be angry and resentful or fearful about what might happen next. Our brains respond to the emotions with a release of hormones - either the stress hormone, cortisol or dopamine, the happy hormone. When telling the story out loud, we have the opportunity to re-frame it in a peaceful or positive way, triggering the positive hormones instead of the negative ones.
Dr David R. Hamilton talks about the power of releasing positive hormones while exploring visualisation in his book, ‘How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body’. The research he gathered shows that if we visualise being well and believe we can get better, the positive hormones flowing around the body prompt our brains to respond and boost the healing effects of any treatment. The important factor is to reduce stress. And he reminds us that our minds and brains are not black and white - stress or no stress, on or off. There are many shades of colour in between.
In a similar way, when we relax to tell or listen to a story, storytelling can become a tool for reframing our experiences and fostering a healthier, more positive mindset. Through their writing, all authors become teachers and healers. Their stories impart knowledge, share experiences, and guide us through emotional journeys. Without knowing which parts of their stories will land with individuals, authors write to release their creativity. Then when the reviews start coming in, the author hears how it resonates with the readers. Whether it's through the hero's struggle in Western narratives or the harmonious tales of Eastern traditions, storytelling connects us, helps us process our emotions, and leads us towards personal growth and healing. By choosing what we read, we shape our learning and healing experiences, proving that every author has the power to contribute to the learning journey and healing of their audience.
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