Moral Imperative of Story

Moral Imperative of Story

Personal Choice

August 28, 2016

Story is the natural way in which our minds process the seemingly disparate experiences in life. The only story we know is that which comes to us through our own consciousness. Because of this the human mind is naturally inclined to place itself as the protagonist of everything it experiences. It is not until we are exposed to other stories that we can get a perspective of our life other than our own. When confronted with new stories our minds project ourselves into the plot, emotions, and relationships within a new narrative, with which we can powerfully associate. Whether factual or not, stories cut to the heart, speaking to the spirit within. 

Without external exposure to other stories, an individual or community becomes stuck in it’s own small story. Historically, to be stagnant in one story has led to all kinds of evil. The Nazi story of Arian supremacy and the Communist story of a divine leader are dramatic examples of this. And what about America’s own proud story of constitutionality, racism, and manifest destiny? I believe a moral imperative of story to be an effective means of diminishing suffering in the world. A consistent exposure to other stories serves to break us out of our own micro stories, exposing the flaws and prejudices therein and giving us the chance to rewrite them. It is the only way our conscience becomes aware of a new way of seeing. Stories help us to see beyond what we can see from our own small vantage point, enlarging our capacity for love and compassion.