The Personal Narrative Each of us has a story.

Why do we tell stories?

“We are all composed of stories.” In your notebook, explain what you think this quote means. How have your stories (your experiences) shaped who you are at this moment in time? Think of a particular story of your own that has had an impact on the kind of person you are. Share with a friend.

The Power of Story In this complex and diverse world there exists something that we all have in common and upon which the success of our entire civilization rests. It is the almost magical way in which we communicate and understand each other. Simply said, it is storytelling.

The Storyteller Everyone is a storyteller, from the way we gesture, to the tales we tell after school or work. Whomever you are, no matter what your background is, no matter if you are shy or overbearing, YOU are a storyteller. Don’t be afraid to tell your story!

The History of Story Anthropologists, psychologists, and historians believe that storytelling has been with us since the beginning of our existence - in fact, they argue that storytelling is that which defines our humanity. Stories and storytelling lie at the heart of human experience. Since the beginnings of humankind, we have shared through stories the events, beliefs, and values that make us who we are and form our families, communities, and cultures.

According to the Experts… Psychoanalysts believe that we have an innate desire to express ourselves. We have an inner yearning to communicate what we feel or have experienced with another. This is the need for validation, the need to feel that someone believes we are important enough to listen to.

According to the Experts Many neuroscientists argue that we are composed of stories, that stories themselves are the basis of our consciousness. The building blocks of stories are nothing more than the logical sequence of events in our memory. The way in which this logical sequencing affects us emotionally becomes the narrative bridge for the stories we share.

Benefits of Storytelling Shaping and expressing true stories about our lives and those of the people we’ve known can connect us more vitally with others; develop our creativity; strengthen our humor, courage, and confidence; and render our lives more memorable. Through stories, memory is kept alive.

We’re Defined by Our Stories “People are composed of stories not atoms.” This quote captures a complex truth ... There isn’t a moment in the day that we are not defined by the stories we carry around in our heads about our families, friends, the places we live, love and hate. Without stories, we can’t understand the present or have a context to predict the future.

No Limitations! “You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind.” -Darwin Kingsley