What are the stories that you are telling yourself? Does your inner voice tell you that you can or that you can’t? Lani Peterson is a story coach and workshop leader. She refers to limiting stories as “thin stories.” These stories are too thin to hold all of who you are. How can you create …Read More
Category: Story Transforms
Stories are powerful medicine ~ Regi Carpenter
There was once a young woman whose only son died. Her heart was so heavy with grief that she could not go on. She went to Buddha and asked for a magic potion to take away the grief. “Of course,” said the Buddha, “I just need one small thing. You must bring me a mustard …Read More
Introverts on Stage
When I see people on stage, I used to think. “I can’t do that … but I wish I could.” I think of how lucky the extroverts of the world are. Extroverts have no problem talking in front of people. They get energized by attention and people. I get drained. After two weeks of a …Read More
Storytelling as Medicine, Online Courses
I’m a physician and storyteller. How does a physician become a storyteller? Well, that’s a long story (coming soon), but right now I’ll just say that “healing” comes to us in so many different way. Today, along with my stethoscope and my prescription pad … I carry stories as my medicine. Stories are Medicine Stories …Read More
Man rain, woman rain
My mom once told me the difference between man rain and woman rain. Here in Florida, the humid summer months bring rainstorms every afternoon like clockwork. “The weather is horrible! It rains every day,” complained a friend who recently moved from New York. “But the rest of the day is fine,” I said. Growing up …Read More
The Cliché of Cinderella
Nearly every child in America can tell you the story of Cinderella. Some of them have watched the Disney version of the movie so often they can recite the dialogue. By the time they are old enough for the story of Cinderella to be of real emotional help to them, they have heard it so …Read More
Storytelling as Medicine ~ Workshop
For many indigenous peoples, “medicine” is anything that heals the body, mind, emotions, or spirit. Beyond the herbs and drugs to heal the physical body, this expanded definition of “medicine” includes the healing power of stories to change our hearts, inspire our spirits, and move our minds past limiting beliefs. When we release our raw …Read More
Telling the Difficult Story
“We know from the testimony of both victims and perpetrators that silence makes abuse possible.” ~Loren Neimi and Elizabeth Ellis, Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories We tell our difficult stories to make the world a better place. In therapy or therapeutic safe space, sharing our raw stories allows us to process emotions, …Read More
“Doc, will you help me die?”
It was my first day on service at the hospital ward. I had a list of patients already admitted from the previous doctor. For the next week, I would be responsible for their care. I read over the electronic charts of the first three patients. Then, with white coat, stethoscope, and a few notes, I …Read More
Brandon Leake brings Spoken Word to AGT
Emotions bottled up can lead to explosions. Young men are often not allowed to have their range of emotions. The tears of sadness are ridiculed. Toxic shame hides under the bravado. There is no place for fear. Anger masquerades as strength holding back the pain of bottled up sadness and shame. This leaves two acceptable …Read More