Comments on: Stories As a Means to Make Sense of Our Lives http://www.guidingchange.org/blog/2008/01/07/stories-as-a-means-to-make-sense-of-our-lives/ Guiding Transformative Change Through Insight, Inspiration, and Empowerment Sun, 18 Apr 2010 22:36:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Deb http://www.guidingchange.org/blog/2008/01/07/stories-as-a-means-to-make-sense-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Deb Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:39:41 +0000 http://guidingchange.org/blog/?p=39#comment-47 Aaron, What you say resonates - we really are a storied-people. Stories are less about being "true" than providing a context for understanding and framing - a way to express our perspective. In my consulting work, I help clients develop their stories and examine the ones they may be operating with that may no longer be useful for them. I am not sure about a child's ability to tell stories but telling stories to child (even just a story recapping the events of the day) helps them make sense of life. It's interesting to look at the kinds of stories we tell our child - how we help them frame the world. Aaron,

What you say resonates – we really are a storied-people. Stories are less about being “true” than providing a context for understanding and framing – a way to express our perspective.

In my consulting work, I help clients develop their stories and examine the ones they may be operating with that may no longer be useful for them.

I am not sure about a child’s ability to tell stories but telling stories to child (even just a story recapping the events of the day) helps them make sense of life.

It’s interesting to look at the kinds of stories we tell our child – how we help them frame the world.

]]> By: Aaron Estis http://www.guidingchange.org/blog/2008/01/07/stories-as-a-means-to-make-sense-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Aaron Estis Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:51:06 +0000 http://guidingchange.org/blog/?p=39#comment-45 I like the idea that stories connect the two sides of the brain. Stories are all about connections. They connect the future and the past, me and you, the yin and yang, our inner selves with the outside world. We need connections to survive and to grow and to learn. It was once said to me that the people who became leaders in the global consulting company in which I spent 17 years, were those that could tell stories best. As a management consultant I create stories for my clients. I often tell my colleagues that we as consultants don't impart the truth, we don't really know the truth. Instead, we offer a truth, that is a story that explains, motivates, and charts a course for our clients backed up with data, assumptions and beliefs that they share, consistent with their core values. It makes me wonder. Does a child's ability to tell stories reflect the maturity of the connections across their corpus callosum? I like the idea that stories connect the two sides of the brain. Stories are all about connections. They connect the future and the past, me and you, the yin and yang, our inner selves with the outside world. We need connections to survive and to grow and to learn.

It was once said to me that the people who became leaders in the global consulting company in which I spent 17 years, were those that could tell stories best.

As a management consultant I create stories for my clients. I often tell my colleagues that we as consultants don’t impart the truth, we don’t really know the truth. Instead, we offer a truth, that is a story that explains, motivates, and charts a course for our clients backed up with data, assumptions and beliefs that they share, consistent with their core values.

It makes me wonder. Does a child’s ability to tell stories reflect the maturity of the connections across their corpus callosum?

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