Have you ever had this drive to share your story with the world? There are definitely various tales inside of you that want to be let out and inspire others in their own little way. The mere act of storytelling can do great and amazing things you never thought you needed, such as empowerment, inspiration, expression, and healing. However, you are not limited to telling popular oral traditions or stories because simply sharing your experiences is also considered storytelling.
There are also different avenues that allow you to tell your tale and express your truth, such as literature. In the said platform, every individual is given the liberty to either tell or write their stories and express their ideas with creativity. Hence, there were millions of books and stories that were born from those remarkable stories. Most of these books are under different genres, such as fiction, nonfiction, prose, and poetry.
Moreover, does the thought of why stories matter ever crossed your mind? If it has, then here are the reasons that will enlighten your minds.
Represent a memory
Stories often represent memories while memories often become stories; and, the cycle goes on. How did this happen? As you already know, experiences turn into the best tales. Knowing that people experienced different events in life, such as childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, each of the stages of their life brings a great lesson that many can learn from. Thus, writing your fondest or most meaningful experiences can help preserve those memories and even help others who had it worse than you did or are facing the same struggles.
In literature, stories that are solely based on real events of a person’s life are categorized under memoir and biography. There are also works that take those experiences in order to inspire people to make a move for their betterment, which is called self-help. The mentioned genres house remarkable and heartwarming books, such as The Other Side of Fear: My Journey into Perfect Love by W. Veronica Lisare and The Journey Home by Lori-Ellen Pisani.
Connect emotionally
Emotional connection is the most unexpected outcome in storytelling. This factor is the main indicator if a tale has created an impact on its audience or readers. The moment that you decide to share your story in the most comfortable method, which is either through verbal or written form, the receiver on the other end of the line will start to process and respond.
Hence, the emotional connection that is formed between a book and reader often refers to the bunch of subjective emotions that emerge. Through this connection, the bond between the readers and the stories becomes stronger, wherein the former become attached and moved by the latter. The common emotions that arose during the reading or storytelling process that create the emotional bond are happiness, sadness, anger, love, sorrow, grief, and a thousand more.
Influence lifestyles and mindsets
As it has and always been, stories are inanimate teachers. Knowing that each individual has gone through different events and has conquered varying struggles, it is also good to consider that they also live different lives. You may not live the same way or may not have the same perspectives as others, but with the wide array of stories that you’ve read and heard of, you will soon develop a better lifestyle and mindset.
Through stories, you can learn more about the things that you are struggling with and rise above your adversities. In return, you can also share your passions, fears, and hardships with others, which they can also take and learn from as they go on their lives. Therefore, stories have their own unique way of influencing people and shaping their minds.
Teach about culture and history
Stories reflect both culture and history. The place that you have originated or the location where your story setting is based on has its own rich culture and history. Everyone has a tale to tell, which goes the same to culture and history. Hence, the stories that you personally experienced or that were shared with you somehow showcase a particular belief or tradition from the country of origin of the writer or storyteller. These oral tales and written stories are inspired or based on some parts of history that have made a great impact on the authors.
Alex Writes 