Our world is a complex place.
Issues, problems, questions… diverse situations… infinite possibilities.
Stories focus on parts of our world.
Story
Let’s look at a simple story. A story about Magda and her dog Daisy.
Magda worries about her dog Daisy being home all day while she is at work. Magda believes Daisy is anxious when left alone.
Magda hires Paw Pals, a dog walking service. Daisy loves her new pack time each day, walking with a friendly human and other dogs from the neighborhood.
The situation is that Magda must work at the office all day while Daisy remains at home, alone. Magda is stressed and Daisy suffers. The resolution is that Magda hires a service, Paw Pals. Daisy is now happy, and Magda can focus on her work. This brief story transformed a difficult situation into a good outcome.
Information
Stories differ from from factual information. Consider information about dogs left alone.
Dogs develop anxiety left when alone for long periods of time. To relieve anxiety, owners can give drugs or hire dog walkers or take dogs to kennels.
Information is descriptive – observations about problems and solutions. Information is precise but abstract. Information lacks a raltable experience. We don’t form a sympathetic connection as we do with stories.