Why storytelling makes us human

Some experts say it's been more impactful for our evolution than having opposable thumbs.

Hey there,

DD HQ here. Think about the last time you heard a story. It almost feels hard to decipher what is and isn’t a story, right?

We interact with stories all day - whether it’s hearing a co-worker’s weekend excursions or watching a video without the volume (we know you do it, too). Stories come in all shapes, from songs to pictures and even gossip.

We’re not trying to be dramatic, but stories are literally the lifeblood of humanity. They’re a tool to express our naturally creative brain and make sense of the world around us. In any form, they can be a unifier or a weapon. They can motivate us to action or keep us stuck in a belief system.

And sometimes, a story is so powerful that it sticks with us…forever.

At Daydreamers, storytelling is at the core of everything we do, because from our POV and based on the science, it’s the genesis of deep, authentic connection. In a world where it feels that stories are always laced with an underlying goal (🤑) - or even worse - completely absent, we’ve always felt that we could reclaim this innate superpower, for good.

TBH, that’s why started writing Head in the Clouds in the first place. While we were building Daydreamers in secret, we wanted to connect with you via thoughtful stories that redefine our collective view of creativity. And, it’s even why we took such a unique approach to creating our new website.

We built it not just for you to buy another thing (in fact, we made it kind of hard to do so 😅) but instead, help us all feel connected to one story: Creativity is what makes us feel alive - and it’s missing from our modern world.

That idea inspired us to do a deep dive on the science of storytelling, how it motivates us @ DD and why we can all use it as a tool for real connection more often.

Get this: “Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution — more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.”

Powerful thought, right?

Regardless of how emotionally connected you feel to storytelling, biologically, our ability to imagine futures that don’t yet exist - and share them with others - has been a core element of our collective evolution.

Here’s why (the short version) - about 36,000 years ago, the human brain went through an unplanned acceleration. Basically, parts of our brain developed spontaneously that would normally take thousands of years to occur. Scientists call this era of our history, The Cognitive Revolution - and this new ‘accelerated region’ of our brain it gave us access to language, imagination, and really, the future of humanity.

That blip changed everything for our species. We learned how to communicate - and not just communicate, but find connection, meaning and even hope in the stories we made up.

Remember that stories aren’t just in books and words. Our brain actually thinks in images first - and, the first human ‘story’ was a cave painting to warn others of predators. Our ancient ancestors in the caves of France created the first map of the future. They extended an olive branch from one human to another that brought direction, purpose and a shared sense of courage.

At Daydreamers, we like to think of stories as a way to connect dots for yourself, and others in order to make sense of something new.

For example, we brought this POV to life while building the new Daydreamers website. If you’ve explored it (if not, do it!!) you’ll see that it’s an unfolding journey; a visual story that expands your mind as you dive deeper.

Our designers + team hatched the idea from this video from 1977 - The Powers of Ten - that shows how we are all connected. From the DNA underneath our skin, to our place in the cosmos, our ability to make sense of our place in the Universe happens by using our creative brains.

Take a stroll through the Daydreamers story - and maybe use this note to prompt your own ideas: What story do you want to share with the world? Is it one rooted in connection, or driven by other people’s metrics of ‘success’?

Remember that everything - even awards or accolades - is an imaginary story that we all opt into believing. And when we have that knowledge, we can start to push the status quo towards the better.

With us?

Katina + Dupi

and the entire team @ DD HQ

Want to be part of our mission in a bigger, more powerful way? We’re here for it 👋🏽 We’re so excited to have more space in the Daydreamers Universe - we’re opening up our next cohort to join our community + reconnect with your naturally creative brain. Sign up to see if it’s a fit:

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An idea to noodle on 💭

Good storytelling isn’t just for the likes.

THINK ON THIS: Telling stories is the most basic tool we have for genuine connection. In fact, storytelling forms bonds on a biological level. When we tell stories, in any form, we release oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine - the ideal mix of neurotransmitters once thought to only be shared between a mother and baby, but can help develop deep connections between strangers.

…MAYBE NOT THAT: If you think you’re ‘bad’ at storytelling, start with gossiping first. Not all gossip is bad; it’s a natural way to share information socially. Storytelling is as innate to our creative brains as breathing, but if you feel intimidated, think of it as an exchange of observations with another person that can build cooperation, alliances + support.

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Inside our brains at DD HQ  🧠

Speaking of connection - trees really talk to (and support) each other. Why being proud of your friends - or frenemies - actually helps you feel better. We ❤️ this philosophy of living things (they’re all around us). What does art and AI-generated…content have in common? If you need ideas of what to do off your phone, this list has got you.

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Ideas from the DD Crew 🛸

Our new website is live for you to explore and we can’t get enough. What do you think? Tell us your reactions below - it’ll light our team up! 🙃