Writing a New Narrative. The Power of Story to Save Humanity
The Living OUT Podcast — LOP098
Live OUT your unique identity to create an LGBTQ leadership that makes a difference in the world.
Recently I listened to The TED Interview, Yuval Noah Harari reveals the real dangers ahead in which Harari explains why it might feel like there’s no future for humanity. Serendipity led me to read, George Monbiot: how do we get out of this mess? and to watch his TED Talk, “ The new political story that could change everything “.
Both Harari and Monbiot explain that humanity is missing the next “narrative” — or as Monbiot calls it, a”Restoration Story” — one that follows the classic hero’s journey, provides us with a story of who we are, and a vision of the future in which we see ourselves living a better life.
Creating a new politics of belonging instead of division
For reference, here are the quotations from Monbiot’s article below, that I speak to in today’s episode.
“Political renewal depends on a new political story. Without a new story that is positive and propositional, rather than reactive and oppositional, nothing changes.”
“The narrative we build has to be simple and intelligible. If it is to transform our politics, it should appeal to as many people as possible, crossing traditional political lines. It should resonate with deep needs and desires. It should explain the mess we are in and the means by which we might escape it. And, because there is nothing to be gained from spreading falsehoods, it must be firmly grounded in reality.
This might sound like a tall order. But there is, I believe, a clear and compelling Restoration Story to be told that fits this description.”
We human beings “…possess an unparalleled sensitivity to the needs of others, a unique level of concern about their welfare, and a peerless ability to create moral norms that generalise and enforce these tendencies. We are also, among mammals, the supreme cooperators.”
“We have been induced by politicians, economists and journalists to accept a vicious ideology of extreme competition and individualism that pits us against each other, encourages us to fear and mistrust each other and weakens the social bonds that make our lives worth living.”
“We have lost our common purpose (…) to find common ground in confronting our predicaments, and to unite to overcome them.”
Member discussion