Storytelling is an integral part of being human. It is a thread that connects us all, weaving together our thoughts and feelings into the fabric of human existence.
Whether written down or told orally, stories have many purposes. They can educate, entertain, inspire. They can excite, thrill, chill. They can make us laugh, make us cry, make us question the entirety of our existence.
Words have power.
At their core, stories are a vehicle for communicating ideas to others. But more than this, they are an important tool for helping us to navigate our lives; a lighthouse guiding us through fog and storm-swept seas.
In times of emotional turmoil, stories can be a much needed form of escapism. It’s no surprise that during the Covid-19 lockdowns in recent years, many people turned to books for comfort to transcend the doom and gloom going on beyond their doors.
When immersed in a story, we are transported to other worlds – sometimes, other universes. Stories can take you on adventures, giving you a feast for the senses. They offer a chance to experience different places, perspectives, and people, unrestricted by your bank balance or circumstances.
Though sometimes escapism is what we need to cope with our lives, stories can also help us overcome challenges and handle difficult times, showing us familiar things in a new light.
Stories offer catharsis – a way to process and release our emotions through different characters and situations.
You might think that reading books with happy topics and steering clear of stories with darker subject matter would be best when going through challenging times, such as grieving a loved one. But it can be immensely healing to see our own pain mirrored in someone else; to have our own feelings and experiences seen, heard, shared, and validated.
I recall that line in the song ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ by The Verve:
“I need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in me”
Misery loves company. But it’s not about dragging others down to wallow in your pain. By being able to recognise our own feelings and experiences in stories, it lightens the load; it helps us bear the burden of our own grief. The stories whisper ‘I know how you feel, I’m right here with you, it is OK to feel the way you feel’.
Stories deal with the whole spectrum of humanity – through reading, you will find characters and situations you can relate to, as well as plenty that are refreshingly different or irritating or terrifying.
In the act of reading, you are opening up your mind to other possibilities and perspectives, challenging your preconceptions, and being invited to self-reflect and shine a light on your own darkest places.
Whether you’re looking for escapism, entertainment, inspiration, or the thrill of something scary experienced in the safety of a story, there will always be a book out there somewhere to give you what you need.
As well as boosting your mental health, reading brings a plethora of other benefits by keeping your brain active, developing your vocabulary, and expanding your imagination. It is the perfect way to relax a busy mind.
We have so many distractions in modern life, with devices constantly beeping or flashing, demanding our attention. Being overly busy and being distracted are two of the root causes to many problems humans face in contemporary society.
It is vital that we are able to spend calm, quiet time away from screens. Humans need silence. Humans need stillness. Humans need to spend time simply ‘being’, without the need to be productive or ‘doing’.
Reading gives us this stillness and silence, forcing us to pause and focus our minds. It is a form of meditation. Reading is the realm in which our minds are unleashed from the shackles of digital devices and always needing to be ‘on’, always needing to be responsive.
Books are the perfect remedy to support your mental health and wellbeing in a world that is all too busy and noisy.
Words have power. Which words are you giving your power to?
Melissa Brannlund 