Have you ever been put on the spot to tell a story?
Well, I have, and it’s called intuitive storytelling.
One day at the Dentist, my eldest son was sitting and looking a little pale. The hygienist had gone over the procedure for the day, and it was a little frightening for my child. Finally, he looked at me and voiced, “Can you tell me a story?” In that simple request, I knew he wanted more than a story. He wanted reassurance. He wanted to relax, be distracted; he wanted to be brave and have the courage to face what was coming.
As a mom, I wanted to offer him a cocktail of empathy, therapy and assurance that will help him relax and strengthen him at the same time for the procedure he was to undergo. But, unfortunately, I had nothing to offer on the spot.
What do you do when you’re put on the spot like I was? What if you were on the plan, and it hits some turbulence? What do you tell your 5year old son to discourage his worries? How do you help your agitated daughter settle to sleep when you’re spending the night in a new place?
I’ll tell you – you make your own fireworks by intuitive storytelling. Tell them a story when in doubt by creating one on the spot. It works. It is convenient, portable, effective, and it holds immense variety.
Here are the three tenets of intuitive storytelling – the three As:
- Attention
Attention is like the little cannon that sends the fireworks into the sky. To properly tell a story on the spot, you need to be attentive. You have to pay full attention to your environment, your audience, the situation at hand, and your heart. This way, you will be able to come up with the right story for the moment.
- Affection
Be affectionate and passionate about your story. Your passion guarantees the attention of your audience and keeps them locked in.
- Approach
How do you approach intuitive storytelling? Never sound unsure. Even if you are threading the path of fiction, make it sound believable. That way, you captivate your audience, and you’d have your desired emotions.
Let storytelling be your go-to for teaching your kids lessons, morals, or just motivating, encouraging, and reassuring them.
Go on to sparkle stories for a comprehensive guide on intuitive storytelling and also get inspired so you can have what to tell your kids when the need arises.
Tell stories. Just do it. And enjoy the colorful fireworks you create along with your kids.
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POSTED IN: ENTERTAINING THEM. TAGGED: FAMILY RITUAL, FAMILY TIME, STORYTELLING