The power of stories

What has made humans so powerful over all other species? 

What is the main force that drive our social systems? 

What shapes our definition of success and happiness?

What is directing our love and passions?

The answer to all those questions,is the same. THE STORY.

Our capacity to create abstract concepts that are transmitted to large populations is the most notable tool that humans has over the rest of animals. The stories have allow us to coordinate at large scale, connecting people that do not know each other, and align immense forces and efforts to create the great civilizations of our time. The way we relate to our neighbours and colleagues,  feel sucessful or happy, or in love, are not based only on biology, but greatly on the stories we build at the base.

The subject of our stories are not real, since they do not have a material base or feelings (for example, nations and capitalismus do not suffer). They are social constructs, nothing more, nothing less, but they are tremendously powerful.

To any great power comes a great responsability, and stories can coordinate efforts for a better and more just society (human rights, universal vote, universal health care) or a terrible ones (the holocaust, the Inquisition or the world wars).

Any story start in the brain, but end up touching our hearts and guiding our behaviour. It will allow us to relate or disociate with others. It will affect our day to day decisions, and the focus of our most precious gift, our time.

For those who want to change or improve the world, it is not enough to be right, have the right data, or the most intelligent plan. We need a good story. A good story SCALES, and in a very peaceful and subtle way, drive society change.


A very unsuccessfull story: The story of climate change

The story of climate change is, to my understanding a story of failure. For 40 years, the most prestigious scientists have told us that if we do not take serious and immediate action, the world will warm severely, putting under risk our own existence, and eliminating most of the specifies on Earth.
A big problem was set into the agenda, too big, too complex, too far, too uncertain. After several international agreements, we cannot say that Co2 emissions have go down or anything close to the desired target for a "safe world". Energy, food, water supply are under risk, but the topic remain way down in people and politicans agenda. We need a better story.

I do not think we need more facts, more documentaries of how bad is eating animals or burning fossil fuels for the environment. We need a new story, and here is my proposal.

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A new story of sustainable living 

Live is rather short, and precious. In our hearts we know, we were given plenty of gifts, without condition. Our parents, friends and mentors love us. Nature provides air, water and beauty. Our bodies allow us to move, feel and create. Our mind can create a story of giving back the gifts and bury the story of separation. We are individuals, but we are deeply connected. We need love, air and water to live, althought we most of the time we behave to the contrary. That is not because of our nature, but of the certain pitfalls of our current story of live and purpose.

The development of humans and civilizations does not come without effort and hard work, together with great creativity to solve our problems. But this effort has to go beyond our individual benefit, we are not homo economicus, specially when our basic needs are covered. We want to have an impact, to do meaningful jobs, to have time to cultivate what it matters, our truly passions and relationships.

 There is no need to grow in material consumption every year, nor in wealth, since this goes against nature and the truly state of happinness. We are rich when we precise little and give a lot to others. Happinness flattens after certain income, and due to the fact is mainly due to the quality of our relationships, that's what we should be excelling at. In order words, turn off the laptop, phone and tv and enrich your relationships.

Money is a medium of exchange, nor a wealth growth medium. Money should losse value over time, nor gain it, since that only leads to debt and the harmful forms of development, those that create the highest cost to others.

Success is not materialize in wealth, but rather in our capacity to put our highest effort on meaningful causes, whatever the outcome. We cannot control the outcomes, but we can control the direction and intensity of our efforts. There are no more "Thanks god is friday", since everyday is full of what we love to do.

We should pay more the jobs that lead to good : doctors, teachers, farmers, nature protectors, sustainable energy and material providers... Most of professions can be turn into good, but they need to accept that not everything that counts can be counted, nor everything that can be counted counts.

More for you is NOT less for me, since we all pursue our best self and we celebrate our colleagues achievements, and our careers are shaped towards common goals. Let's leave competitions over the playgrounds, and not where people place their most 8 productive hours of each day.

Science and politics should seek the common good, and not power. The science of care and understanding cannot lead to harmful weapons or nature destruction. When politicians work together for the people, instead of keeping their party in power, amazing thing happens, the world just get better.

The technology will not save us. Adding more chemicals or more harmful ways of producing energy/food/supplies will only make it worse. We need technologies that heal the damage, that understand nature and are developed to maintain and not consume.

We are not consumers, we are creators and givers. Our purpose is to make the live of others better, and have the most joyful and exciting life. Let's embrance the creative live and leave the consumism and busy lives behind.

We own what we enjoy, not what we have. House mortgages that last 30 years, cars that cost two year of salary, one week holydays that cost 8 weeks of hard work...We can choose to enjoy, share and benefit for a more simple and light way of living, without sacrificing comfort. Get a rent, share a car or use public transport, and be more in nature, that will not save only money, it will save you life.

Life is an adventure, we must be excited of what we are doing. There is a lot of endurance required on our big goals, and sometimes is hard, but we should smile when we talk about what we are pursuing.
Play like a kid, till the day you die.

Our body and mind, are our assets to shine. Eat well, sleep well, and stay fit. Get inspired and cultivate your brain with art, books and stories, and among all, thousands of experiences.

Take care of your surroundings: the trees, the streets, the rives, the air, the other animals...all of them deserve your best love. 

Using the language of love, and love for action, and you will never be wrong. 

Avoid the war game, the competition game, the power game. 

You are not hear to win, you are here to love.

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Share this story, improve it, make it your own and live it. We can make a difference, save this beautiful world, the living things in it, if we get the story right.

I am deeply inspired by many, but those books are one the greatest sources of story telling I found:

[1] Sacred Economics. Charles Einseinstein.

[2] A new story of climate change. Charles Einseinstein.

[3] Homo Sapiens. Yuval Noah Harari

[4] Homo Deus. Yuval Noah Harari

[5] This Changes everthing. Naomi Klein.