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By Lisa Shultz
As human beings we experience many events over the course
of our lives, yet we seldom get to share them in a way that leads to change,
transformation for others who may be experiencing something similar.
Stories have the power to cross boundaries of culture,
language and age. Concepts conveyed in a story imprint themselves into the human
mind. It is the stories we remember more than the idea or concept that might
have been presented at the time.
Stories define us and give us a sense of identity. We may
tell ourselves certain stories or believe or dismiss stories. The stories may
not be accurate, yet if we believe them, they become our reality.
Stories have the ability to build and preserve a sense of
community. Stories can align and motivate with vivid imagery and build emotional
connections often providing a shared sense of purpose.
To be human is to have a story, and we think of our lives
as a story. A story is the
structure that gives meaning and order to our lives.
Stories are how we convey our deepest emotions and talk
about those things that we value the most. It is through the stories we tell
that we are most able to portray the fullest array of human emotion.
At their best, stories are incredibly persuasive because
they 'speak to us' at a very meaningful, emotional, and often-unconscious level.
When a story makes the hair on the back of our necks tingle it is because that
particular story has touched a very deep nerve in our personal or collective
psyches.
As children we were naturally
good at telling stories about events or topics that mattered and learning from
others via their stories, but as we became older we were taught that serious
people relied only on presenting information and "the facts." Accurate
information, sound logic, and the facts are necessary, of course, but truly
effective leaders in any field know how to tell "the story" behind their
success.
Women process their present-day
problems, their past history, and their dreams of their futures with stories.
Often, they express themselves more openly in the company of other women. They
often feel that another woman will be able to relate to their story and telling
it allows them to process what happened and make decisions about how to move
forward.
Sharing a personal story with
another person can be deeply bonding and create a lasting connection. Sometimes
people hesitate to share their most personal stories, but when they speak from
their hearts with courage, they often feel a catharsis and relief. Keeping their
story private may seem safer, but when we keep our story tucked away from
others, we may not be able to achieve a relatable connection with those around
us.
Our stories have the power to
release us from being stuck as well as inspire others simultaneously.
Hiding our stories may also seem like we are forgiving and forgetting,
but actually sharing them can further us in our journey of healing.
I encourage you to celebrate
your life and the stories within it. Those stories shaped you into who you are
today. We all have the power to create a lasting legacy of our story. Begin to
share your stories and then let them go free while you move on to create even
more. The best is yet to come!
Lisa Shultz has found her heart's work through connecting
and empowering women with her networking organization Women, Wine, and Wellness,
www.WomenWineAndWellness.com.
A public speaker, author, and networking expert, she now inspires other women to
create the life of their dreams. She
is passionate about expanding her vision. Lisa is excited about supporting women
in speaking their truth and sharing their personal stories. Some of her books
are, Speaking Your Truth: Courageous
Stories from Inspiring Women, How to Bring Your Book to Life. She can be reached at
www.LisaShultz.com or
www.WomenCelebrateStories.com.
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