Storytelling

Myths have historically played a crucial role in moving large groups of people to accomplish remarkable feats. Whether through religious myths like Christianity’s afterlife, or modern myths of prosperity, freedom, and the belief that material wealth brings happiness, myths shape collective human behavior. Marketing has leveraged the modern myth, creating artificial needs to fuel consumerism, which opposes the proven systems of nature, and which has generated many large-scale global problems. If the modern myth that we live by no longer makes sense, perhaps it is time for a new myth. But how are new myths formed?

Changing a myth is a challenge when individuals are deeply embedded in a paradigm: it is difficult to step outside of it and see the world differently. Myths do not form overnight, though the wide-spread and cheap use of technology has allowed myth-creation to accelerate. Those who create and propagate myths hold significant power and responsibility, but the changes that their wielding produce will likely create resistance. On the other hand, democratically shaped myths that begin as seeds of ideas can gradually grow and take shape, influenced by multiple perspectives. People contribute to these narratives, which gain strength and evolve. 

It is not up to one person to determine a new myth. We need only accept that a new myth is possible and allow people to fill in the details themselves. This is increasingly likely when disenfranchised groups start to break free from existing paradigms. When enough people resonate with these emerging ideas, the seeds of the new myth start to connect to form a narrative that can influence what we believe and how we behave.

In this process, storytelling becomes a powerful tool to open minds and shift perspectives. Once central to the survival and transformation of civilizations, it is at the precipice of becoming a lost art. It is essential to support and revive this skill, as it is through stories that societies have historically adapted to change. This process involves listening to what is already happening in small communities and neighborhoods, where new ideas often begin to take root.

Change cannot be driven solely by rational thought or rational tools. It must start with a feeling, a deeper emotional connection that poetry, art, music, and playful interaction can evoke. These creative expressions elicit emotion, open people’s eyes to new possibilities, and help to shift perspectives. As previously untapped emotions begin to emerge, mindfulness techniques can also help people become more comfortable with uncomfortable emotions. 

Increasingly, people are experiencing discomfort with the current state of the world, creating fertile ground for change. But this transformation occurs through small steps, beginning with awareness and emotional engagement. Ultimately, a new myth will be written when society experiences a collective change of heart, allowing transformative change to be made.

Concept contributors: Reon Brand, Twan Roubroeks, Jessica Smarsch, Edgar van der Linden, and Christel Verboven

Writing & Illustration: Jessica Smarsch