A narrative, whether it be for the purpose of reflection or promotion, often serves as a powerful tool of empowerment. In this blog post, we will explore the impact of storytelling, or personal narrative on identity and belonging, investigating how individual personal narratives shape one’s sense of self and cultural identity, highlighting the importance of diverse voices and storytelling traditions in fostering empathy and understanding across cultures.
Creating a Narrative Identity
Storytelling is a powerful tool that one can use to construct, solidify, and introduce an identity for an individual and their audience. According to LinkedIn’s article on the power of storytelling, “By using storytelling to define your purpose, connect with your values, showcase your skills, and inspire action, you can build a personal brand that stands out and makes a difference.” Dan McAdams, a psychologist at Northwestern University, explains such use of storytelling to be narrative identity, stating that “Narrative identity weaves our various life experiences into a coherent story that not only links experiences into temporal and causal chains but creates meaning through the expression of values and ideals.” By constructing an individual narrative identity, it is possible to create a strong pillar or definition as to who you are, acting as a central value to guide someone during their life.
Conclusion
Storytelling is one of the pillars of building a meaningful life because stories are, at heart, about meaning and connection. Our personal stories live within a world of stories, stories of distant others, friends, and family. We can create meaningful stories for ourselves because we have meaningful stories about others as models and inspiration.
– Robin Flvush
From a long time ago, storytelling is how we understand what we experience as humans, shaping and framing our values and ideals. We are attracted to it, captivated by its ability to foster creativity and provide a sense of belonging. We grow up with stories, and continue to tell them no matter where in life, such as making small talk with the bus driver or listening to a local horror legend from friends. The act of sharing personal narratives not only forms our narrative identity but also helps assist in the creation of others’ narrative identities.
