The Awesome Power of Storytelling

Image by Виктория Бородинова from Pixabay

Sometimes, precious gems can be found in places where you might not think to look. Ross Morrissey (President) and I discovered such a treasure by chance at the Mill Creek Retirement Center (where our meetings are held) last November. The precious gem we ran into was Carol E. Titus, who was a Story Weaver with the New Jersey Storytelling Network. Of course, we had to invite her to speak at one of our meetings! On December 3rd, she graced us with a thought-provoking and captivating storytelling workshop. Not only did we learn the importance of using vivid words but also how telling a story creates a bond between the speaker and the audience and between audience members. It was an enjoyable experience!

When I first met Ms. Carol, she made a comment that stuck with me. She said that audience members aren't looking at the speaker but picturing what the speaker is saying inside their heads. I found this to be a profound revelation because what intimidated me the most about public speaking was the many staring eyes. I've learned that public speaking is about the audience, not the speaker. To engage with an audience is to connect with the audience. One of the best ways to establish a connection with an audience, besides locking eyes, is through sharing personal stories.

Recently, I discovered something marvelous while giving a speech. While telling the story, I had forgotten that I was on a stage speaking to an audience. At that moment, I was back in Oklahoma in the middle of an ice storm, and that's when the magic happened. I had also brought the audience with me! It was a fantastic thing to experience. I enjoyed every moment of it, which was even more surprising for an introvert who prefers to be in the background.

Storytelling is a great way to establish a bond with your audience and to forget that you're actually giving a speech. If you find public speaking very challenging like I once did, choose a topic that you are intimately familiar with: You. Tell a funny, heartwarming, sad, intriguing, or dramatic story about yourself. Have fun!

Meanwhile, Ms. Carol, if you're reading this, I'm still dying to know what happened after the sky women married the Earthmen.

Confidence Builders Club Storytelling Workshop

~NC

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