Storytelling is an ancient means of passing on and sharing wisdom and it is no less relevant today than it was for our hunter gatherer forefathers. It has evolved over the years, like many other forms of behaviour, to ensure our survival. Storytelling and sharing true life stories makes us human. It is pervasive through life; a means for us to store, index and retrieve information, to connect us, to drive us to action.
All of us in our lives will come face-to-face with the challenges of loss and turmoil, fear and pain; the unknown. It is through sharing true life stories that we can hope others can learn from our experiences and that we can preempt and avoid the negative consequences of taking certain courses of action that others have taken before us.
Not all storytelling is focused around overcoming challenges. It can also be a means for us to find comfort and understanding in others, to spread joy and laughter, to learn from our mistakes and to discover solutions. But what is true of all kinds of storytelling is the feeling of connectivity it provides us with, which goes back to our primal instincts.
Scientific research shows a wide range of health benefits which can be gained from sharing our true life experiences. They include, but are not limited to:
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It helps us to reorder and understand our thoughts and emotions, enabling us to relax and lighten our psychological burden.
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Writing about our trauma helps us to process and understand it. By facing our emotions and acknowledging them, it is easier for us to make positive steps forwards rather than suppressing it and not being able to move on.
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It makes us more courageous. Having our voice heard and acknowledging our mistakes makes us less fearful and more understanding of failure.
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Sharing our stories boosts confidence and overall wellbeing. It makes us feel good about ourselves to be able to help others and offer advice in an area we know about.
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Listening to a story we can relate to can be an emotionally rewarding experience. It helps the brain to secrete oxytocin, the neurochemical associated with bonding. This in turn lowers blood pressure and makes the body physically relax.
Read true life stories here.
Share true life stories here.