Story Telling: Saving Lives Since 15,000 B.C.

Last month, a social media follower commented on a post that reading my memoir trilogy inspired her to continue to write her story.

She said that she didn't realize how much it mattered until she read mine, but that she realized her voice DID matter after all.

Of course, I was humbled at the impact I had unknowingly made on this woman's life. More importantly, however, I was proud of her for realizing her worth.

Because we all have a story.

Yet, too many women silence themselves because their experiences and struggles are minimized, giving the impression that they don't matter.

I spent most of my life in that victim mentality. Now that I am free of it, I want to give all women, and all people, the encouragement to share their life experiences—not just as a proclamation of breaking the silence on subjects that polite society would rather not confront, but because of the historical premise of storytelling.

Story telling is estimated to have origins around 15,000 B.C.🫨

Back in those primal times, stories were relayed with gestures and sounds, to teach others some lesson in survival. Think of a tribal elder sharing some brave encounter with a beast or mothers demonstrating to daughters how to prepare meals from the harvests and hunts.

Fast forward to today, story telling serves more to entertain or inspire. We watch movies and listen to podcasts. We even create our own little reels and static posts on social media to express some sentiment or wisdom.

Although the evolution of humans from primal beings to intelligent ones has altered the forms of storytelling, the traditional purpose of it remains the same: to sustain life by creating community.

Regardless of modern advancements, our nervous systems are built for one thing—to ensure survival. That is, that we will be fed, sheltered from harmful elements, and protected from physical threat.

In primal times, coordinated community efforts to hunt, gather, find or build shelter, and craft weapons against threats increased the likelihood of survival for all. That still stands in modern times, except those primal needs are expected to be fulfilled, whether by oneself or someone else.

What has become increasingly important to individuals in modern times is acceptance and belonging.

We see people chase approval for what they do and what they believe on social media and in social relationships. It's because we all want to know we have backing, to know we have a tribe.

✨According to a Harvard Graduate School of Education study, 67% of adults feel lonely because they do not belong to any meaningful groups.

This isn't surprising when we consider the current prevalence of social isolation, cyber-bullying, family estrangement, and even the divisive effects of political opinion.

What is shocking is the incidence of suicide and anxiety and depression that result from rejection and abandonment, especially when it doesn't have to be that way.

So, what can we do to help those who feel lonely?

Tell a story.

Stories provide the benefits of:

💗Connection

💗Perspective

💗Wisdom

Even more intriguing is that story telling activates neural coupling, wherein the listeners' brain mirrors that of the story teller's. Within this process:

✨The listener's heart rate matches that of the story teller's.

✨Oxytocin is released in the listener's brain, fostering empathy and trust that make them feel less alone.

✨The release of dopamine boosts the emotional impact and memory of the story.

April 27th just happens to be National Tell A Story Day.

So, tell a story.

💕Share your wisdom.

💕Create the connection.

💕Make the impact.

Because every voice does matter.

And every story can save a life.

➡️For those who are interested in my story, start with my best-selling and award-winning debut memoir, GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE.

➡️You can download the first 2 chapters NOW at https://danasdiaz.com.