Having spent Easter at the beautiful home of our friends, Trish and Greg, it was fun to meet new friends as well as get updates from old friends. While holidays are always filled with sharing, it is often a discussion of the quirky things in our lives that make people laugh.
It got me to think about how important giving sound-bytes about our lives can be to lifting our spirits. If I complain about a health issue from getting old, it often works into a sarcastic tale that brings a story and makes the listener laugh. According to an article by Barbara Field, Verywell Mind, "Stories can uplift us and change our moods. A reasonable amount of positive emotion and optimism allows us to cope better with adversity and meet the obstacles we face."*
Try This: Tell a Story
Especially when feeling stuck with your goals or dreams, maybe just having a disappointment, remind yourself of a story or simply craft one to shift your attention. Here are the benefits:
- Boosts listening skills and fosters imagination
- Increases empathy and memory retention
- Increases positive emotions
- Helps those with dementia
- Helps us build from success and failure
As you can imagine, when you create a quick anecdote, tale or short story, it can attract the new mood and make it easier to move forward to your goals and dreams.
* How Storytelling Is Good for Your Mental Health, Barbara Field, https://www.verywellmind.com/how-storytelling-is-good-for-your-mental-health-5199744