Narratives

A narrative is a spoken, active, or written account of an individual’s or a group’s experience of life.  Narratives are shaped and emerged by:

• Perspectives, that is, from where they stand,
• Dominant or controlling voices of power,
• Assertive, aggressive, and sometimes violent actions of the masses,
• Oral and written traditions,
• Quality of leadership, and
• Silencing the voices of other narratives.

Narratives can be re-shaped by:

• Dialogue, creating space for different narratives,
• Listening to varying perspectives,
• Creating space for various storytelling,
• Revolutionary movements to challenge incomplete or biased narratives, and
• Giving voice to the silent voices.

Authentic Narratives are not static but dynamic. They constantly evolve with:

• New circumstances,
• New experiences,
• New arrivals to the community,
• New perspectives,
• New discoveries,
• New ideas, and
• New voices.

Healthy nations, communities, groups, and individuals emerge because of holding the tension of different narratives and exploring the common threads holding varying pieces together.

When this fails, what materializes is:

• Exclusion,
• Oppression,
• Abuse,
• Manipulation,
• Control, and
• Violence.

What’s our narrative?

Do we have a safe space to tell your narrative?

Do we create a listening space to receive others’ narratives?

How can new narratives reshape our thinking? Cups that carefully hold the water of narratives evolve into solid and authentic relationships containing the beauty of life.