People often identify with certain roles in their life stories such as being a fighter, healer, scholar, or a teacher. By listening to others' stories and understanding the role they play, we can gain insights into their character and experiences. Personal narratives are powerful tools to connect with others on a deeper level compared to paradigmatic modes of thinking like arguments or presentations. Jerome Bruner highlights the distinction between paradigmatic and narrative modes, suggesting that storytelling is essential for understanding individuals and forming meaningful connections.
For the past four years, New York Times columnist and acclaimed author David Brooks has been trying to learn the skills that go into seeing others, understanding others, making other people feel respected, valued, and safe. Such social skills may sound trifling, but mastering them, David believes, could help us all make better decisions, enhance our creativity, and maybe even repair our nation’s fraying social fabric.
• David's new book is How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
• Learn more about Weave: The Social Fabric Project at weavers.org
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