“Emotion and motivation share the same Latin root, movere, which means to move. The world is full of things and it is our feelings that help us choose among them.” -Jonah Lehrer
How do you think people make decisions? Logic? Reason? Weighing the pros and cons?
If you said any of the above you’d be wrong.
People make decisions based on their emotions.
As a nurse you’ve been taught to educate your patients. You and your team come up with a care plan based on your scientific assessment. You can logically see what the patient is suffering from and based on years of experience, training, and wisdom you can come up with the solution to the problems of disease.
I’m also a nurse who’s received similar education and training. On top of my nursing background I also have a heavy influence of ‘blue/green’ traits (logic and organization) based on my Emergenetics Profile.
After reading all of this you might be thinking to yourself, ‘I guess she’s a left-brain thinker for life!’ Not necessarily.
Storytelling helps with transitions.
Now that I’ve shifted from bedside nurse to holistic nurse entrepreneur to Reiki Nurse to whatever I’m calling myself today (LOL) I’ve opened up to more right-brained traits. (And for those of you who haven’t heard of left and right brain thinking- a person who is “left-brained” is often said to be more logical, analytical, and objective, while a person who is “right-brained” is said to be more intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective.)
One of the ways I’ve done this is through story.
One of my coaches this past fall shared with us a webinar of a major internet marketer. Unless you’re thinking of going into business for yourself this video may or may not be of use to you. But regardless of where you are in terms of opening up shop, the messages that this woman shares are powerful.
People relate to stories. Human beings make decisions based on emotions. We learn through feelings because how we feel is tangible, memorable, and impacts us on multiple levels.
Think about this in terms of your nursing career. What works better: teaching a patient using facts and figures or tying a story to the message, an example that the patient can relate to?
Storytelling can change someone’s life.
After I watched the video on storytelling this fall my whole perspective shifted. I started to blog based on story. I began to share client successes on radio interviews. And guess what?
My engagement is increasing!
I receive more comments on my articles, more feedback from my newsletters, and more interaction on social media. I’ve said it twice so I’ll say it again: people react to story, make decisions based on emotion.
“Chaos is rejecting all you have learned, chaos is being yourself.” -Emile M. Cioran
But even further than storytelling itself- story can empower. While storytelling can help a patient learn, connect you with another human being, it can also help you find your voice.
Through story you are empowered to speak your truth, be yourself.
It is my belief that each and every nurse has amazing potential on this planet. We, as individuals, can impact, shift, grow, and heal our entire profession. Just by changing ourselves from the inside out we can uplift the collective!
I’ve found that storytelling- whether through writing, speaking, audio, or video- has helped me be myself. How can you embrace who you really are and love you even more today?
I’d love to hear from you! Please share a comment below on how story has helped you or in what way you’re committed to claiming your voice.
Great piece! It is no accident that histories are first kept by oral tradition. Storytelling is a wonderful skill, and not just for children. Thanks for the reminder!
You are welcome, Susan. Thank you for reading and coming by to comment. You’re right on with oral tradition. A lot of the Reiki teachings are handed down through oral tradition and story. It’s a beautiful practice and brings in the human component to our scientific work as nurses.
Wonderful post, Elizabeth. I’ve had similar experiences with my writing. A story about my mother being anxious in rehab and a guest post on your blog about a difficult self-care decision and my son received lots of comments and clicks. I felt a little more vulnerable. I always appreciate it when you share stories and find them inspiring both in learning more about you and also in taking the risk. I think you are a great leader.
I couldn’t help but wonder how storytelling brings us into relationship with each other and how powerful this is or can be in terms of transforming ourselves and our world. We start to care about someone else and feel cared about, honored. I can get very philosophical about this. Do we feel safer, more connected? Both in terms of telling our stories and listening. Sometimes I notice how agitated folks with dementia get when we don’t listen. The emotion is closer to the surface perhaps, and yet I suspect that the disease is NOT the reaction, but the lack of ability to repress or suppress it. Not listening is like being ignored or invisible….our very existence is threatened.
Plato, over 2000 years ago, said, “All learning has an emotional basis”. Isn’t that fascinating?
One of the simplest and most profound workshops I’ve done with small groups of nurses, (or other HC professionals) is called, “Inspire the Nurse Within”….After a little warm up stuff nurses pair up and share a story about when they have felt inspired by their work as a nurse, (or PT, LNA, etc) and their partner later tells the story to the larger group. This work brings laughter and tears as individuals share something important to them. I think it is very healing for teams and so much can evolve out of a foundation of caring for each other.
Take care,
Beth
Thank you for sharing your insights, wisdom, and experiences Beth. Yes, sharing the story can create a vulnerability but it is through that expression that we can grow closer to another human being, ultimately allowing themselves to express their unique being.
The more we are ourselves in this world the more we allow others to shine as themselves.
Your workshop sounds wonderful- as all of your work always does- I think that bringing the human, the emotion, the value to the team is something that can serve all of healthcare.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth you are so right. Storytelling does increase engagement and people do relate to the emotional side of the story. It is a powerful tool -great post.
Thanks Joyce!