Everyone is a Story-Teller
We often think of storytelling as something creative — a fun activity or a way to pass the time. But it can be so much more than that. For all of us – young and old – storytelling is a powerful tool for emotional growth, mental wellbeing, and resilience. And it’s never been more important to help our young people articulate their own stories.
Stories help us make sense of the world around us, they build empathy, and help us to feel less alone in our experiences. And in times of stress or change, stories can offer comfort, clarity, and connection.
1. Stories are Meaning-Making
Life can feel confusing — especially during key changes of transition when young people have to build on the foundation of their learning, add new information, and reframe how they view themselves. Someone once referred to this process as ‘learning, unlearning, and new learning.’
The stories we help young people tell themselves about these key moments of change can be a powerful and positive tool to help give them meaning to anchor them in the midst of transition.
Practical Application: After a tough move to a new school, a child who writes or talks about the experience may realise they’ve become more confident and adaptable than they thought.
2. Stories Encourage Empathy
When children tell stories — even fictional ones — they practice putting feelings into words. They learn to recognise emotions like fear, joy, anger, and anxiety, and begin to navigate them more effectively.
Practical Application: By describing how a character felt when left out, a young storyteller may start to better understand and express their own experiences with exclusion.
3. Stories Build Belonging
There is nothing more powerful than explaining a difficult situation or a way in which you feel discouraged or overwhelmed, and hearing the words, ‘Me too!’ Famous storyteller C.S. Lewis of the Chronicles of Narnia fame once wrote,
“Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”
Practical Application: A teen reading stories about someone else’s anxiety or family struggles might bring relief, hope, and even courage to open themselves up further.
4. Stories can help Advocate for Agency
When young people shape their own narratives, they start to see themselves as agents of their own lives — not just passengers.
Even in difficult situations, storytelling gives them a sense of authorship: “This happened, but here’s what I did,” or “Here’s what I’ve learned.”
Practical Application: This mindset can shift a young person from helplessness to empowerment — a core shift in building resilience.
As a final thought, resilient storytelling isn’t about performance. It happens in conversations, drawings, journaling, role play, music, and more. What matters most is a space where the young person feels safe, seen, and heard.
Helping young people tell their stories — and listen to others — is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to build mental strength, self-awareness, and emotional resilience.
You don’t need formal training to do it. You just need curiosity, patience, and the willingness to listen.
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