About Stories
Posted by:
- Rye
Stories often convey deeper truths than isolated facts because they reflect the full complexity of human experience. While facts are important, they lack meaning without context—such as who was involved, when it happened, and where it took place. Stories naturally integrate these dimensions, bringing together time, character, setting, and consequence to create a richer, more layered understanding. This is especially true for abstract concepts like justice, integrity, or healing—ideas that can't be fully captured by statistics, laws, or singular data points.
Annette Simmons, in The Story Factor, describes stories as being “more true” than facts precisely because of their multidimensional nature. They help us grasp Truth with a capital “T”—the kind that lives in nuance, contradiction, and lived experience.
One such story describes the internal struggle we all face: the conflict between a “sick self” and a self striving for wellness. When a student asks which self will win, the teacher replies, “whichever self you feed.” This simple story holds powerful insight—it reminds us that our identity and reality are shaped not just by external circumstances but by the narratives we choose to nourish within ourselves.
On days when we feel lost or disconnected, returning to such stories can help us reconnect with mindful awareness and intentional action. They serve as bridges beyond the static and the routine—tools of imagination that synthesize new connections, generate new hope, and spark creative renewal. Stories don’t just reflect what is; they help create what could be.