Storytelling, a stress-reliever

We are deeply captivated by stories. We tell them every day! Stories of triumph & stories of letdowns. Every time we complained or celebrated, we are storytelling. I echo what the author had concluded with, that we are the stories we tell and the stories we hear. In this article , the author shares the science behind storytelling and why we can't seem to get enough of it.

We find comfort and strength in hearing the stories and we comfort and strengthen others when we tell our own stories. We love all stories, fictional and non-fictional. We are so emotionally invested in the stories we hear because they evoke strong emotional responses such as anger, fear, sadness and happiness. Fictional stories transport us into another world, a respite from the harsh realities of life. We love stories so much that we've been storytelling since the beginning of time, through words, art, music, movies, video games etc. Many stories have withstood the test of time and are being retold over and over with every new generation.

Storytelling deepens human connection. Research has proven that we are healthier and happier when we find our social group. It was found that stories helped to heal. Children who listened to stories for just 30 minutes showed decreased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone and increased levels of oxytocin, a hormone related to human bonding.

Social psychologists Mar and Oatley posited that stories allow us to live vicariously through the characters, which opens us up new possibilities and perspectives. By changing our perspectives, we change our world view.

At the end of the day, though we can't control life, we can control the way we see it.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vumsop_storytelling-is-good-for-us-and-our-bodies-activity-6812220272742162432-Y1GX