The Effect of Storytelling

“It has been said that next to hunger and thirst, our most basic human need is for storytelling.” ~ Khalil Gibran

I find it incredible that I can still remember great stories from my childhood, high school, and college days, but can’t remember what I ate for dinner last night.  It’s the power and force of stories.  

Why are stories so impactful?

1) We loved them as kids.

Remember sitting around the dinner table and listening to your parents or grandparents’ memories?  We learned about life through stories. 

My dad was a bricklayer with a keen sense for math, which made it natural for him to figure out how many bricks to order and layout for a job.  When he’d come home from work, he’d talk about how he built a section of the job.  I vividly remember him smelling like wet cement and describing the herringbone design he laid on the front of the fireplace.

2) Our brain works this way.

We think in stories and go through our day narrating to ourselves and each other. “I’ve got to get to doctor’s appointment on time,” or “I’ve got a QBR presentation to my boss,” is simply the way we think of our anxiety. And, when we imagine any future event, a story of images and words plays in our minds.

3) We have feelings.

As humans, we have feelings and emotions.  A thought must address our emotional and subconscious mind to have an impact. Good stories live with us forever and spark emotions and can be passed down through generations. They are the common ground from which we share our happiness, relationships, and life’s moments.

4) Stories stimulate us.

We learn life lessons and grow from stories. When we hear someone sharing an authentic experience, neural coupling puts us in their shoes with emotional impact.  The same occurs when we share our own stories.  My children look at me with wonder and fascination when I share a great old story, and it’s not uncommon for them to ask me to repeat it year after year.  I see the rush of adrenaline in them as they place themselves into that character's story, connecting on a deeper level. Stories make us feel like part of something bigger than ourselves.

Fast forward to today…as a former Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, the stories of caring, mentoring, and friendship come alive in my mind every time I think of my days in the program.  For all of us, donating time or money to a worthy cause releases your adrenaline, and that emotional impact develops with you as a life story.