Do you remember the confusion as a child? What is truth? What is story? Adults loved it when, as a little child, I use my imagination and tell them a story. Talking animals, kings and queens, knights on quests, magical objects…. The world is only limited by my imagination. And then one day, POW! The …Read More
Author: Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Physician-Educator-Storyteller. Integrating the power of story into medicine, healing sessions, workshops, speaking and performance.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night ~ Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953) achieved popularity in his lifetime as a drunken ill-fated lost poet, a reputation that he encouraged, until his early death at 39 years old. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, perhaps his most famous poem, calls forth the tenacity of the human spirit. Do Not Go Gentle Into …Read More
Breaking the Fourth Wall, Storytelling Workshop
The 4th wall In theater, actors on stage describe the invisible 4th wall between the audience and the stage. The actors on stage have physical “walls” on 3 sides while the audience has an intimate view through the invisible 4th wall. In traditional theater, the actors pretend not to notice the audience. For the audience, …Read More
How to Raise a Black Son in America ~ Clint Black
I believe in the power of story and poetry to change the world. Story and poetry are among the things in this world that really should take our breath away. Watch Clint Smith on How to Raise a Black Son in America. (< 4 minutes) View this post on Instagram “Son, I’m sorry, but you …Read More
Stories to Connect, Reflect, Heal
“In the midst of taking a storytelling class, magic happened… As I am creating my story, I am the one healing and going through a huge transformation…. both naturally and deep within.” -MM All good things must come to an end. (Even good stories.) My online storytelling class, “Tell Your Story, Transform Your Life: The …Read More
Psychotherapy Session ~ So You Think You Can Dance
What would a pscyhotherapy session look like as a Hip Hop dance? Get “Outta Your Mind” with Alex Wong and Twitch as they perform on the hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance.” I feel like I got a dose of therapy watching the video. I hope it gives you a smile and gets …Read More
Learning from Dirty Jobs ~ Mike Rowe
“My name’s Mike Rowe, and this is my job. I explore the country looking for people who aren’t afraid to get dirty — hard-working men and women who earn an honest living doing the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Now, get ready to get dirty.”~ says Mike …Read More
Body wisdom exercises to move from anxiety to calmness ~ Suzanne Scurlock
During times like these, it’s easy to feel powerless, helpless, and even fearful — from mild anxiety all the way to total terror. Perhaps you’re being re-triggered in ways you thought you’d resolved. Overpowering feelings — of any kind — can cause us to separate from our body. When that happens, predominantly linear thinking (i.e., …Read More
Welcoming the Other ~ Jim Brule
I recently took an online storytelling workshop with Jim Brule called “Welcoming the Other.” What could that be about? What does that have to do with storytelling? Through this interactive workshop, I experienced the power of story to transport me into the experience of “the other” and awaken empathy and compassion. This is transformational storytelling. …Read More
Make Good Art ~ Neil Gaiman
“When things get tough [in life], make good art.”~ Advice from Neil Gaiman Doctoring is my profession. The job requires writing notes, billing patients, dealing with insurance companies, and the list goes on. At some point, I began to loose sight of the things that I enjoyed about doctoring. When I discovered storytelling as a …Read More