Storytelling: A powerful wellness tool

'"...I try to open a path through that maze, to put a little order in that chaos, to make life more bearable. When I write, I describe life as I would like it to be."'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

I've always had a love affair with stories...

Want to better understand my interest in this topic in the context of the initiative I am currently nurturing?

Like many children, I loved closing out each day by listening to a bed time story. I've also always had a very short attention span. These two factors combined meant that evenings were increasingly difficult for my mother, having to find more creative ways to read the same stories contained in my picture books to make them appear fresh to my thirsty mind. Eventually, the permanent ink that carried their tales seemed unnecessarily restrictive and she, instead, decided that it would be easier to make up her own each night. Her fictional protagonist of choice: Gregory Grasshopper!

Oh, the adventures he got into! I can't remember any of them, of course. But what I do remember is the secure feeling of the soft, warm bed as I drifted away from the day preceding me, and the very important connection that I felt with my mother - my storyteller - throughout this time.

My mother is still an amazing narrator. She possesses an artful skill in drawing on her South Australian heritage and memories to weave local familiarity into her stories. Anyone can write about exciting places like Paris and New York, but it takes a particular element of nostalgic creativity to engage listeners with the likes of Uraidla and Balhannah, especially a small child who could benefit from better understanding their lineage. Gregory's adventures were no exception, and it wasn't until I began thinking more deeply about storytelling's association with wellbeing that I considered how I benefited personally, socially and cognitively from these early nighttime experiences. It has also piqued my curiosity in relation to how we, as adults, may be able to tap into this vehicle.

‘When she talked about the past, or told her stories, the room filled with light; the walls dissolved to reveal incredible landscapes, palaces crowded with unimaginable objects, faraway countries that she invented or borrowed from the Professor’s library.’

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Gregory Grasshopper and his worldly adventures!

What is storytelling?

Storytelling is not just something that we used to appreciate in our childhood, snuggling up in bed reading our picture books or listening to a weary parent maintain enough animation to entertain us off to sleep. It goes beyond the Gregory Grasshoppers of our past! At its heart, it's actually one of the most powerful forms of communication that we humans have relied on for centuries (1) - potentially for up to 100,000 years, in fact! (2) One definition of this custom that I love, because I feel that it encapsulates both its function and its magic is that storytelling is:

"...conveying messages and sharing accumulated knowledge and wisdom to help navigate and explain the world around us" (3)

In ancestral times, storytelling - whether in primitive symbol form or the more narrative variety that we are used to in modern times - was a vital tool for communities in its role of passing down knowledge needed by each generation in order to stay safe, survive and thrive (2).

Narrative storytelling is a process that connects a series of events that surpasses a mere telling of facts - the key component is the ability to evoke emotions in the listener in a manner that engages them on a deeper and more meaningful level, enabling personal connection and reflection (4). It is a communication skill that we, as humans, have honed over centuries to create emotional connections at a visceral level, not merely an intellectual one (1,4).

The emotional impact is not even reliant on the truth of a story. Our brain doesn't mind. It just knows when a story is a good story, when it cares about its characters and when it has been engaging enough for the listener to have placed themselves into the narrative (4,5).

Structurally, stories will tend to have a beginning, middle and end, as well as a protagonist, an idea, practice or object and, importantly, some form of conflict or transformation (6). It may strike you that you adhere to this structure quite naturally when you tell a story. This is because narration is embedded into our natural way of thinking (1).

And of health and wellness?

The practice of storytelling has a variety of connections to health and wellness. It not only imparts knowledge for mere safety and survival, but it can also aid in inclusive public health promotion and science communication, as well as contribute to social connectedness, intellectual wellness and psychological health.

A couple more definitions upfront:

What is social wellness?

When I talk of 'holistic wellness' with simplicity I often draw on models that incorporate three dimensions of wellness: physical, mental and social. There is nuance and complexity to this, but for the purpose of this topic we'll use this definition of social wellness: "Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others...Social wellness involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you." (7)

What is intellectual wellness?

This is a topic about which I am very passionate. It tends to be sadly underrated when we talk about health and wellbeing, but it is vitally important that we maintain it throughout life. Intellectual wellness is about tapping into our creativity and having an open mind, seeking out new experiences, opportunities and ideas that challenge us. It encourages exploration and personal growth. Through this consistent exposure, we expand our capabilities, skills, knowledge and confidence. You can read a little more of my thoughts on the topic here.

'She sowed in my mind the idea that reality is not only what we see on the surface; it has a magical dimension as well and, if we so desire, it is legitimate to enhance it and color it to make our journey through life less trying.'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Storytelling and wellness

Let's face it, the scientific evidence that sits behind many public health initiatives can seem dry, overly complex and boring to those who are not geeks like me! This can be a huge barrier to the effective transfer of knowledge and understanding about health topics that are critical to maintain and improve the health of the population.

Translating this type of information using the values-based meaning of stories can be very effective (8,9). Doing so can enhance understanding and learning by increasing the listener's intellectual investment and creating an emotional bond between them and the speaker (8). It helps listeners reorganise implicit information such as knowledge, attitudes and perception into new patterns in their own minds (10). This can essentially reframe the listener's perspectives on a topic. Technical research literacy or knowledge is not required to listen to a narrative story, so this process can also increase inclusivity and reach among non-academic populations (4). When storytelling is used in community-based health promotion it can promote connection, understanding, self-expression, health literacy and the elevation of voices of those that are typically excluded from daily discourse (9,11).

One of the primary differences between imparting knowledge through objective facts and storytelling is that the latter elicits emotions and passion. This can prove a source of inspiration and motivation to kickstart a person into action (4,5,10,11). When we listen to the stories of others, we inevitably connect the content to our own experiences, creating the personal meaning required to take action in our own lives (10). Stories also improve our chances of memorising content and achieving clarity of meaning, as opposed to just a dry retelling of facts (1,4).

Imagine a world where you learn about the health risks of refined sugar through Gregory Grasshopper's overindulgence! Well, you get my point.

On a smaller, patient-specific level, storytelling has been used in health research to improve outcomes in cases of diabetes (12) and Covid-19 (13), as well as to gain in-depth understanding of the patient experience to improve systemic health care (14).

'It was with her that I learned to barter words for goods, and I have been blessed with good fortune, for I have always been able to find someone willing to accept such a transaction.'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Storytelling and public health

Have you ever stopped to think about why it is so enjoyable to huddle around a campfire sharing stories with others? Why it seems to elicit a sense of social closeness unparalleled by other group activities?

The process of storytelling is a collaboration between the teller and listener, and even more so when stories are repeated and passed onto other parties over time (10). By doing this, stories evolve and develop new meaning and new lessons to be shared again and again (10). This explains the social and cultural importance of story perpetuation that exists through multiple generations.

When we tell personal stories, we inevitably share a small part of our journey - perhaps a glimmer of our hopes and dreams in life, or a glimpse into what frightens or worries us, how we care for others, or how others care for us. The vulnerability that is intrinsically intertwined with this sharing helps to build trust with others, and it also breaks down hierarchical status barriers, levelling the social playing field (10). The exchange of stories - and, in essence, this vulnerability and trust - reinforces social bonding.

In a similar way, stories not only reveal information about the teller, but the act of taking in stories also allows us to more meaningfully connect with our own values, philosophies and beliefs (6). This process gives us a deeper understanding of ourselves and allows us to make better sense of our own experiences and thoughts (6). It opens the door for the introspection, curiosity and self-affirmation that is required for the type of grounded sense of wellbeing that carries us healthfully through times of difficulty. I've no doubt that Gregory's tales led to my own enhanced understanding of my childhood experiences in that very same household and backyard.

Connecting through stories can have a biochemical effect that actually promotes altruistic behaviour, meaning that we are more prone to help and support others when we have been emotionally moved by a narrative (5). In addition, stories with complex characters that don't rely on stereotypes have been associated with increased empathy (15), so much so that academic institutions are beginning to recognise the practical functions of storytelling in their medical courses (16,17). Such vehicles of generosity can further strengthen relationships and trust.

We feel less alone when we share stories with others and they are accepted, and especially when this gesture is reciprocated (18).

If we refer back to our definition of social wellness, all these benefits contribute directly to meaningful, supportive and genuine connection with others.

'...she understands that in her desire to please him she had given him her own memory: she no longer knew what was hers or how much now belonged to him; their pasts had been woven into a single strand.'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Social connectedness

The complex effects that stories have on us at both a conscious and unconscious level can be illustrated by the various parts of the brain that activate when we listen to a story. These regions are not necessarily those that are traditionally considered to be part of the brain's 'language network' (20). This indicates that there is much more going on in our mind than surface level processing. These areas of activation span early auditory centres and linguistic areas, as well as regions responsible for higher level cognition in the frontal and parietal cortices (8).

From a neurochemical perspective, various storytelling techniques have been linked to increases in oxytocin levels (5,19). Oxytocin is often referred to as our primary 'social bonding' hormone which may go some way to explain the social benefits previously outlined.

I have been banging the drum of the importance of boredom for good wellbeing for a long time now. It's really only during times of what we term 'boredom' when our brain can adequately problem solve, be truly curious and find peace. Unfortunately, our modern western lifestyles have actually created environments that not only disallow this, but, though evolving technology, they are aimed at active avoidance of boredom! This type of lifestyle goes a long way to explain the increasing stress, anxiety, sense of constant alertness and feeling of being 'wired' that many of us now suffer through on a daily basis. How does this relate to sharing stories? Well, sleep is not the only time our brain rests - wakeful cognitive rest is also vital. Those same brain regions that activate when we are listening to a story actually overlap with those corresponding to our default cognitive 'resting state' during unconstrained times in which our mind can wander (i.e. in the absence of rapid-fire stimulation) (20). This relationship is just another reason to preference organic, 'real life' connection over social media scrolling that does not support meaningful engagement with narratives (read more about this here).

What is exceptionally interesting about all this is that these brain activation patterns are stable across different languages, and are shared between both the speaker and listener (8). This highlights how truly magical the act of story swapping is, indicating a level of shared understanding and interpretation that we may not fully understand (don't worry - I'm not about to get all Jungian on you!) This may sound a bit like psychobabble, but the practical implications for social wellness here are very tangible. For instance, brain scan studies indicate that the stronger the neural alignment between the brains of the story teller and listener, the better the communication (8).

'Words are free, she used to say, and she appropriated them; they were all hers.'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Our brain during storytelling

By now, we can see that storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used in all aspects of our life (and we haven't even touched on many of the place-based applications for this technique, such as in workplaces and schools). But how can you, the general punter, use it in your day-to-day life to reap the social, intellectual and psychological benefits?

Here are six ways that you can start incorporating storytelling into your daily life today:

1) Use as a replacement for the standard 'yeah, not bad' reply

In Australia in particular, we have a terrible habit of responding with 'yeah, not bad' when asked how we are. This is not only reasonably negative (is 'not bad' the best we can hope for?), but it also doesn't leave the door open for any kind of meaningful dialogue with the other person. Instead, think of the most interesting thing that has recently happened to you, and tell a brief story around that experience.

2) Put your phone down when waiting/bored/taking a break/commuting

These times are perfect opportunities to meaningfully connect with others through sharing stories. Sure, you have to read the room - not everyone on your morning train is going to want to engage with you in this way, but a colleague in the tea room at work might appreciate a yarn over lunch instead of burying their head in their phone.

3) Initiate a household tradition

If you live with others, whether it be relatives, a partner or friends in a share-house, this can act as the flip-side of tip 1. Instead of asking 'how are you?' or 'how was your day?', reframe the question to something that encourages more narrative storytelling, such as 'what was the best thing that happened to you today?', 'tell me about the thing from today that will stick in your mind', or 'what new things did you learn today?'.

4) Recognise and grab those small opportunities for connection

Some of my favourite interactions in life have been when floating around a store or market, or buying a local morning coffee, and striking up a story-based conversation with the people working there. These don't have to be long-term connections, but they are opportunities to insert some story swapping into our daily activities, and can be especially enjoyable when moving through our local communities.

5) Create a mental (or written) story bank

This one may sound a little weird, but I actually think it is what really interesting people do intuitively. Because we tend to think that life is endless, we can find ourselves just drifting through time not really consciously connecting with the happenings of the day, or their storytelling value. Instead, start noticing the interesting things that happen during your day and mentally bank them or even write them down if you need more of a prompt. They may be things that you know a loved one would really get a kick out of, something funny, or something new that you learned. There is an important level of consciousness and presence involved here - think of all the mindfulness advice you've ever received. This way, you will be ready to wow someone and meaningfully connect the next time you are asked: 'how are you?'.

6) Get involved in the Wellness Unplugged initiative!

I am currently cultivating an initiative that emphasises meaningful connection through the power of storytelling. Read more about it here and get in touch if you would like to get involved - I would love to hear from you!

'Mimí maintained that each of us is born with a talent, and that happiness or misfortune depends on discovering what that talent is and whether there is a demand for it in the world, because there are remarkable skills that go unappreciated…'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Incorporating storytelling into your daily life

The practice of sharing stories is as old as time. There is no doubt that storytelling is a powerful vehicle to not only elevate understanding of health issues and inspire us to act on this knowledge in a way that enhances our quality of life, but the very act itself can bring us together and facilitate a magical type of social connection. We can use it to flex our intellectual wellness muscles and tap into our mind's active resting state.

So next time someone tells you that stories are just for children, you can let them know of the multitude of benefits for us big kids!

So get out there, be vulnerable, share your stories with others and listen to theirs intently. There is so much to be gained through this connection. After all, you never know what you may learn from Gregory Grasshopper's next adventure!

'"But if he can’t change things, who can?" "You and I, for example. What has to change in this world are attitudes."'

Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, 1987

Final thoughts

Has this inspired you to prioritise more real life interaction?

Are you a local business owner who has a positive effect on the quality of life of your clients, customers or community? Do you know of one whom you would like to nominate? Or are you just interested in more content like this, and receiving monthly stories that promote real life wellness?

Sources

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© Sharon Jenner 2023