Listen as we uncover how storytelling serves as a primary coping mechanism for traumatic experience. We discuss how sacred texts have been used to process trauma. Who knew the oppressed made their voices heard through religious literature? How can we understand this storytelling as a healing endeavor? What stories do we tell ourselves to cope with the past and engage with the future? Join us as we strive to answer these questions. Focus Virtues: Curiosity, Awareness, Sensitivity, Vulnerability. My conversation with Sarah highlights the virtues of awareness, curiosity, sensitivity, and vulnerability. Bringing awareness to the fact that everyone experiences trauma and in turn processes trauma in their own unique way; helps us to understand the humanity in others. The “why” behind other’s behaviors and identities may be rooted in some trauma processing mechanism; perhaps an act of storytelling they are telling themselves in order to move on from their own traumatic past. After solidifying such awareness, a process of curiosity as well as sensitivity to the past experiences of others helps us to see past surface level impressions and understand the spirit of another more deeply. Further, cultivating vulnerability and wonder about what stories we tell ourselves to cope with the trauma of our own past, helps us to tune into our deeper selves. This reflective process is a coping mechanism in and of itself. We all experience trauma on some level. Awareness of this trauma, as well as curiosity, and sensitivity about how we deal with it, helps to thread out our ego’s protective layer and find our true self beneath the surface. Becoming vulnerable about the narratives we create for ourselves, helps to create a safe space for us to share our stories, and for others to do the same. Note: While Esther's Shushan likely refers to Susa, one of the four Persian capitals, the way in which the city is described--most especially with regards to who is in power and how the city is being run--indicates that Esther's Shushan is fictional. Check out these resources if you are interested in diving deeper into my conversation with Sarah. Bessel Van Der Kolk, The Body Keeps The Score https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748 Judith Herman, Trauma and Recovery https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Recovery-Aftermath-Violence-Political/dp/0465087302 Elizabeth Boase and Christopher G. Frechette (ed.), Bible Through the Lens of Trauma https://www.amazon.com/Bible-through-Trauma-Semeia-Studies/dp/1628371455 David Carr, Holy Resilience https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Resilience-Bibles-Traumatic-Origins/dp/0300204566