The power of stories

“Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

For as long as there have been humans, we have used language in one form or another to communicate with one another.

The earliest form of human communication can be seen today in the form of cave paintings from tens of thousands of years ago. We have evolved to listen to, and tell, stories. There is something primal and instinctive about the joy of gathering round a warm fire and listening to somebody tell us, or read an account of, something that happened, real or imagined. Children grow up with a love of stories. This love of stories never really leaves us.

Have you ever stopped to listen to the stories you tell yourself on a regular basis?

For instance, how many times do you find yourself saying aloud to somebody else, “Oh, numbers aren’t really my thing. I’m no good at maths”, or, “I really shouldn’t have that second glass of wine - I’ll regret it in the morning”, or all sorts of variations on these themes?

The words we tell ourselves are like stories. The more we listen to these stories, the more ingrained they become and the more we start to believe them as fact. This, I think, is why Nathaniel Hawthorne stressed the importance of choosing the right combination of words.

Our subconscious mind believes every single thing we tell it. When we tell ourselves something, it becomes cemented and more ingrained with repetition.

Have you really listened to the stories you are telling yourself repeatedly? What do you think would happen if you changed this story?

I am a heart language and soul travel guide and I am here to help you transform your journey here on Earth. Check out my website for more information and for details of my books.

Life is a journey. Happy travels.