Stories as Medicine

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I first met Dr. Paul Browde as part of a multi-month intensive men's work program we were both part of. We were just about to break out into a few parallel sessions about various elements of running men’s groups when Paul raised his hand and said something to the effect of “would it be useful to have a breakout session about our personal narratives and how we use them to lead?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I watched as the heads of 40+ men swiveled to focus on this one unassuming gentleman and witnessed nearly half of the group switch over from whatever session they were planning on going to and instead, go to sit around Paul to listen to him tell his story and share his wisdom about how to share our own stories. That’s the power of story!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paul is a doctor of psychiatry and a TedX speaker. He has shared the stage with luminaries like Esther Perel, has taught Narrative Medicine at Columbia University, and co-founded a storytelling company called Narativ.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paul has some profound wisdom to share about how to become aware of a different type of story - the stories that tell us, as well as the power of sharing our own stories, and examining the stories we tell about ourselves</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">to ourselves</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">and to others. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Paul writes on his site:</span></p> <p><strong>We are born in connection, we are wired for connection, and it is through connection that we heal and experience our true aliveness.</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I have always felt that stories can be the most powerful elements of communication - indeed, they are the thread that holds together each and every conversation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stories are how we connect, heal and come alive.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listen onward to l