Storytelling: A Powerful Tool

1. Storytelling: A Powerful Tool for Personal Fulfillment and Professional Success

3. Storytelling is the only way to get people from different backgrounds with different experiences aligned in their thoughts and emotions.

4. Research has shown a link between the stories we tell and the outcomes we experience.

5. Who we are and what we do are influenced by the stories that we tell about ourselves Source: Retelling The Stories of Our Lives: Everyday Narrative Therapy to Draw Inspiration and Transform Experience by David Denborough, Ph.D.

6. Who we are and what we do are influenced by the stories that we tell about ourselves Whatever storyline we have about our lives impacts who we are and how we act. Source: Retelling The Stories of Our Lives: Everyday Narrative Therapy to Draw Inspiration and Transform Experience by David Denborough, Ph.D.

7. Creating Your Story for Professional Success and Personal Fulfillment Experiential Exercise

8. Creating Your Story Think of yourself at your most successful and fulfilled:

9. Creating Your Story Think of yourself at your most successful and fulfilled: What is the title of your story? What chapter are you currently living? What has to happen to get your lead character (YOU) to your vision of success and fulfillment?

10. The Science of Storytelling

11. The Science of Storytelling Neural Coupling A story activates the parts of the brain that allows listeners to turn a story into their own ideas and experiences Source: Infographic: The Science of Storytelling

12. The Science of Storytelling Neural Coupling A story activates the parts of the brain that allows listeners to turn a story into their own ideas and experiences Mirroring Listeners will experience brain activity similar to the that of the speaker Source: Infographic: The Science of Storytelling

13. The Science of Storytelling Dopamine It is easier to remember information told in story-form because of the dopamine that is released when hearing a story, particularly one that is emotionally-charged Neural Coupling A story activates the parts of the brain that allows listeners to turn a story into their own ideas and experiences Mirroring Listeners will experience brain activity similar to the that of the speaker Source: Infographic: The Science of Storytelling

14. The Science of Storytelling Dopamine It is easier to remember information told in story-form because of the dopamine that is released when hearing a story, particularly one that is emotionally-charged Neural Coupling A story activates the parts of the brain that allows listeners to turn a story into their own ideas and experiences Cortex Activity It is easier to process facts in story-form because multiple parts of the brain are ignited Mirroring Listeners will experience brain activity similar to that of the speaker Source: Infographic: The Science of Storytelling

15. Creating Your Story for Professional Success and Personal Fulfillment Action Steps

16. Reflection: Storytelling Questions to Consider Periodically, reflect on your personal story with these 3 questions • What’s the story I’m telling myself and/or others about myself and my experiences? • What am I highlighting in my story and is it brining the results I desire? • How might I change the story and/or what I’m highlighting for greater success?

17. Recapping Key Points Storytelling is how to align people’s thoughts and emotions Research shows a link between the stories we tell and the outcomes we experience Whatever storyline we have about our lives impacts who we are and how we act.

18. “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” ―Muriel Rukeyser, poet

19. Questions