“Storytelling is both an art and a science. It requires a creative as well as a rational approach by the storyteller to engage the audience emotionally and intellectually.”
Stories are an integral part of our lives. Storytelling is the oldest form of communication known to mankind. The history of storytelling goes back thousands of years. Storytelling is as ancient as humankind and even before humans started writing they use to tell stories to each other. During prehistoric times caveman used signs, sounds, and drawings on big rocks to tell their tales, which were about life, their dreams, and their hunter instinct.
Storytelling has evolved with time and the evolution of storytelling is very closely related to human revolution and the advancements in technology where different platforms to tell stories are now easily accessible. With time the various forms and types of storytelling styles have also emerged. Everything changed as we moved ahead in life but one thing that remains still the same is sharing stories among ourselves. Today, storytelling has emerged as a powerful communication tool to convey diverse messages and is used in entertainment, education, business, marketing and many more fields. What is a story? For decades we have been listening & telling stories, but have we ever thought why we get so intrigued when we listen to an interesting story? Before we define a story let’s see what are the essential ingredients to a good story – yes, a good story which we all love to listen.
Everyone has a story to tell. Human mind is hard wired for stories. We all remember stories from our childhood. We know real-life stories courtesy our friends and families. We read great books and see great movies with wonderful storyline that move us, drove us to tears, or made us laugh out loud. When we look closely, we notice that our workplace is full of stories. Stories are all around us. Our life in itself is a collection of stories. Story builds empathy and creates bonds. It is the most powerful tool to build human connection with ideas. Stories are like the fuel that ignites thoughts and reinvigorates the mind and the heart.
Storytelling is the act of framing an idea as a narrative to inform, illuminate, and inspire & to take your dreams from imagination to reality. Learn to tell a story and your life and the lives of those you touch as a storyteller will be completely transformed. Stories have the power to shape our lives and the lives of our listeners. “That’s what storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again”. – Walt Disney If we tell stories, then kids develop an instant connect & it emulsifies their creative & imaginative powers. Stories are an integral part of our childhood. We all have very fond memories of our childhood, where our parents & grandparents used to narrate stories to us. That’s a beautiful part of our growing up.
