Our culture doesn't think storytelling is sacred. Ursula Le Guin
We are hardwired to be influenced by stories. And yet, we are rarely fully conscious of the power of storytelling. In recent years there has been a surge of storytelling courses of all sorts. It has become, no longer the work of writers but, (especially?) the persuasive technology of business. There is a sacredness about storytelling and we must have a sense of responsibility and integrity if we want to be "true storytellers" and not just tellers.
It is true that every one of us: activists, educators, leaders, scientists... needs to become a better storyteller. I do not argue against it. What I am most interested in, is understanding why we want to tell a story and what specific story we want to tell.
Stories have been told since the beginning of time (it was stories that enabled humanity to flourish) to create new realities. These new realities are evoked through abstraction and metaphors. Archetypes and myths are used to paint (show) them. We have lost, due to "mass media" performance production and objectification, plenty of myths and metaphors making mainstream the so called hero's journey.
I have grown tired of war and conflict metaphors. I am bored by the persistent proliferation of battle metaphors. It seems that every one and everything is a warrior that has defeated a challenge. It is an endless repetition of the same story over and over again. Pay attention to what you read, listen, watch...how many heroes defeating a challenge are out there? We even ask during job interviews about "examples of challenges that the candidate has overcome".
War and conflict cannot be the only responses available to us. The hero's journey cannot be the only way to live and tell a story. Then, we are surprised about lack of collaboration. We are surprised about conflicts...
Words can be an instrument of truth and a weapon of distortion. They reveal but they also conceal. Words are acts. Ursula Le Guin
What new stories we need to tell and what new language we need to create to imagine new realities? Our development as individuals and the development of business, society, education, politics… Are tight together in the need for developing a new language. I have written about poetry has language of/for the future on the blog Poetry of Change.
We must listen, gather, and learn for and from these stories. Storytelling is not a tool to persuade or exploit or distort...is a way of knowing. Knowing who we are and what we want.
If you’re interested in learning more about RNEWB services and would like to discuss any consultancy, workshops, and talks, drop us a line at fateme@rnewb.com. If you are interested in working together to explore together knowing through stories, new narratives and storytelling please reach out
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