The skill of storytelling
Wholebeing Domain: Ritualising
Storytelling: Sharing narratives to impart wisdom and nurture community.
Once upon a time…
…in a world not so different from our own, there was a group of changemakers who had forgotten the power of stories. They were so focused on facts and figures, on strategies and business plans, that they had lost touch with the magic power of narratives as a tool to touch hearts, change minds, and transform realities.
But there was one among them, an old sage, who remembered. One night, she gathered the changemakers around a flickering fire and began to tell a tale, “Let me tell you a story,” her voice soft but clear in the darkness.
She spoke of a time when stories were the lifeblood of communities, the way wisdom was passed from generation to generation. She told of how stories could heal wounds, bridge divides, and inspire hope even in the bleakest of times. She also spoke of the skill of storytelling – the art of weaving words and images into a quilt of meaning that could wrap around a listener like a warm blanket on a cold night.
As she told her tale, the changemakers leaned in closer, their eyes widening with wonder. They began remembering the stories that shaped their work and life through moments of struggle, triumph, loss, and love. They also began to see how these stories – when shared with openness and authenticity, could become a powerful force for connection, inspiration, and transformation.
The wise sage smiled at the spark in their eyes. “You see,” she said, “Storytelling isn’t just a nice add-on to our work. It is at the very heart of it. For what are changemakers if not storytellers, weavers of narratives that describe new possibilities? What is our work if not a grand, collective story of the world we wish to create together?”
She went on to explain that storytelling is a skill that can be learned and cultivated. It is deeper than just recounting events; in fact, it is about shaping them into a narrative arc that can engage emotions, challenge assumptions, and open windows into new perspectives. It is about finding the universal in the particular – the moments of shared humanity that can bridge even the widest of divides.
The changemakers nodded, their minds spinning with ideas. They began to share their own stories, hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence and passion. They laughed and cried together, marvelling at the way their individual tales wove into a larger tapestry of shared purpose and commitment.
As the night wore on and the fire burned low, the sage looked around the circle with satisfaction. “Remember this moment,” she urged. “Remember the power of stories to bring us together, to heal our wounds, to guide us home. And remember that each of you, in your own way, is a master storyteller with the power – and responsibility – to shape narratives that will guide our world.”
The changemakers left the fire that night with a new commitment to the skill of storytelling. They began to infuse their work with the power of narrative, telling the stories of the communities they served, the visions they held, and the lessons they had learned. As they did so, they discovered that more people were drawn to their cause, ready to add their own threads to the evolving story of change. Their work took on new levels of depth and resonance.
And so, the skill of storytelling became a cornerstone practice in changemaking – a reminder that beneath the data and the deadlines, the real work of change is, at its heart, the work of weaving new stories of who we are and who we could become. A story big enough to hold us all, brave enough to face the darkness, and bold enough to light the way forward, one chapter at a time.
How can you practise the skill of storytelling?
Here are a few practices to get you started:
Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on the following prompts and share a story of your own in the comments below so we may begin to weave a new narrative together.
💭 What is your relationship with storytelling? What stories have shaped your work and life as a changemaker? How might honing your storytelling skills enhance your impact as a changemaker?
⚠️ REMINDER: Storytelling is a skill for sharing wisdom, building community, and shaping the narratives that guide your world. By learning to craft and share stories with authenticity and vulnera-bravery, you access one of the most ancient tools for transformation.
This skill is connected to the Wholebeing Domain of Ritualising
Ritualising is the ability to cultivate wholebeing through daily and seasonal rituals. It involves reclaiming the sacredness in your life.
Teaser 👀
The next post will introduce the skill of non-performing. In the meantime, as you engage with our wholebeing practices, share your commitments, insights, and experiences on your #WholebeingJourney in the comments section below.
Big hugs,
Alessia, Greta, and Tariq