The Power of Narrative

I like to read a lot of nonfiction. I feel like each book I read leaves me with just an inch more understanding in this world. I suppose fiction would do the same, but I think I just connect with the candor of nonfiction a bit more. Maybe it’s because I don’t have to read between the lines as much. But I digress… 

A common theme in quite a few nonfiction books I’ve read is the idea of narrative, and how it shapes our understanding of reality. Moreover, it’s something I’ve felt over and over in my personal life. 

Quite simply, human beings are social beings. Whether we admit to it or not, our lives exist in a social as much as a physical space. Our experiences occur in a world of constant communication, wherein we interpret and attribute meaning to everything happening around us, sometimes for the better and sometimes for worse. But it’s in this social context where we determine what matters most in our collective existence and what can be discarded. And we do this through narrative. 

Narratives are simply stories about ourselves, about others, about the world, about quite simply, everything. We tell ourselves stories about why our coworkers act the way they do, about why our cultures function the way they do, and about why things are (or aren’t) working out in our lives. This is important, because these stories are how we make sense of this convoluted, messy and often unjust world. They give us a line to hold on to and serve as a guide in a world with no instruction manual. 

A narrative doesn’t have to be true or even make sense. In fact, many of them are illogical once you parse them apart, but that’s not the point. The only purpose of a narrative is to give us a satisfying explanation to the confusing world we live in. 

Because even in the worst of times, a narrative at least gives us the comfort of a greater meaning behind the randomness. Everything happens for a reason, we tell ourselves. And I do think that’s truly a good thing. The world is often as scary as it is beautiful, and stories allow us to explain away the bad and bask in the good. It’s through narrative that we allow ourselves to see us as part of a greater whole. It’s through instilling a sense of purpose that narrative enables us to accomplish truly wonderful things. Indeed, every good thing we’ve ever done as humans has only been accomplished once a narrative was created that resonated with enough of us to act on it. 

On the other hand, narrative also has the power to divide us through its caricatures of ‘the other’. It can distort our reality by giving us simple answers to complex questions. We may stop engaging with things we don’t understand because our stories already gave us the answers we were looking for, regardless of their veracity. All we need is a narrative that’s satisfying enough. 

So how do we engage with narrative then? I suppose, like in many things, the answer lies in approaching the world with a sense of curiosity. It’s important to believe in our stories as they keep us from retreating into cynicism and depression. But just as important is to question where our stories come from and if there might be something more to them, something yet unwritten. 

The construction of social narrative is one of our defining traits as humans, but it is ultimately up to us to decide how we engage with it. We can accept our stories as they are told to us, or question, challenge, and refine them into something more nuanced and compassionate. 

It’s a bit ironic after all – my love for nonfiction has taught me the importance of fiction. 

Til next time, 

Gnardaddy