Member-only story
The Stories You Believe Shape Your World
Life is one big, never-ending, story
Stories are an intrinsic part of humankind. They are how we have been able to leave our humble roots behind and transcend our planet.
Think of the great religions, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, all of them offer a narrative. They offer explanations for the world we see around us and a set of codes that we should adhere to lest we invoke the wrath of our God or Gods.
The ability of humankind to connect and prosper is down to belief in several such stories. Nation-states are a prime example of this. None of us would doubt the existence of the United States, Germany or even Fiji, but they are merely lines on a map.
Nation-states are a relatively new development in the history of humanity. For the majority of our existence, we existed in small tribes. Borders and the idea of national cultures were not even contemplated. They were not a part of reality.
Nations exist in part because of our collective willingness to believe in the story of such countries. If I am to drive through the United Kingdom, I cannot see or hear the United Kingdom, because the idea of the country exists in the collective imagination of humans.
