Stories as Motivational Tools
'What a piece of work is man!' Shakespeare might have exclaimed in wondrous rapture but the fact remains that this noble creature is also at times feeble and may lose heart. He is also an easy prey to temptations of the flesh and the soul. Whenever man seemed to deviate from the path of righteousness or waver while striving for his goal, mentors have come to uplift his stooping spirits through motivational stories.
Stories that burn bright with the moral truth and wisdom. Stories have always been used as motivational tools. Such stories through which moral and spiritual matters may be conveyed is a parable. It often involves a character facing a moral dilemma or making a questionable decision and then suffering the consequences of that choice. Many folktales could be viewed as extended parables. Many fairytales could be viewed as extended parables except for their magical setting. Parables frequently use metaphorical language which allows people to more easily discuss difficult or complex ideas.
In Plato's Republic parables like the 'Parable of the Cave' (in which understanding of truth is presented as a story about being deceived by shadows on the wall of a cave) teach an abstract argument, using a concrete narrative which is more easily grasped. Moral is deduced as it dawns on the reader or listener that the conclusion applies equally well to his own concerns. Jesus of Nazareth’s parables of the Prodigal Son, The Good Samaritan and Ignacy Krasicki the Polish fabulist's 'The blind Man and the Lame', 'The Lamb and the Wolves' and 'The Violet and the Grass' in which he uses plants whereas divine beings like Zeus and Hermes also appear as active agents in some parables.
Fable is a brief story that features animals, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities) and that illustrate a moral lesson which may be at the end expressed in a pithy maxim. Fable differs from parable in that the latter excludes animals, plants, inanimate objects and the forces of nature – actors that assume speech and other powers of mankind. Both have the same purpose to teach a lesson or value or to give sage advice. Fables also provide opportunities to laugh at human folly, when they provide examples of behavior to avoid rather than to emulate.
For the wayward sons of the Indian royalty, Vishnusharma was summoned who metamorphosed the unruly princes with his 'Panchtantra'- the fable. We also have Aesop the Greek slave whose stories as motivational tools have also given the world some of its most enlightening proverbs. Some of his most famous are 'The Crow and the Pitcher', 'The Hare and the Tortoise', 'The Lion and the Mouse'. Then there is 'Hitopdesha', 'The Jataka Tales', 'Vikram and Vaital of Baital Pachisi' and Syntipa's 'Seven Wise Masters'. Indian epics like the Ramanaya and the Mahabharata also contained fables within the main story. We also have the famous 'Stone Soup' and 'The Boy who cried Wolf'.
Even Sufism the mystic tradition within Islam uses stories as motivational tools. Sufi generally teaches in personal groups as the counsel of the master is considered necessary for the growth of the pupil. They make extensive use of parable, allegory and metaphor.
Coming to more modern times George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' which laments what man has made of man, James Thurber's 'Fox and the Cock' whereas one of the best stories which can always be used as motivational tools are Richard Bach's 'Jonathan Livingstone Seagull' which elevates a man to hitherto unachieved heights and Hemmingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' where old Santiago's justified claim, 'I shall be destroyed but not defeated.' motivates a man to brave the struggle of life.
Today world's leading motivation experts leaders use stories, quotes, anecdotes along with practical usable information as motivational tools to bring out the best in a man. Stories that send a shiver down the spine, raise goose-pimples, give a light-headed feeling; one such is the story of Lance Armstrong. The Chicken Soup series has transformed many a lives. Whether it is 'Monk who sold his Ferrari' or 'You can Win' or 'Tough Times Never Lasts But Tough People Do' all rely heavily on stories as motivational tools and this makes them the bestsellers.
Music is considered to the best motivating tool. Search out some good music on Music Yellow pages and download cool thought for the day and friendship quotes from these links.
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