Stories of adversities overcome, of vistas restored, of scientific discoveries made, of solutions to pressing problems found, of heroes rising up to fight for justice. Stories of success are powerful tools to capture the imagination and push us forward.
Humans, by nature social and suggestible, can easily be swept up by the impulse to identify with the people, places, and ideas that bring feelings of empowerment and agency. Whether these success stories are direct or implied, they ignite a sense of possibility and inspire us to push through challenges. They show us that our decisions and actions can shape outcomes and that, on a deeper level, using our imagination and our capacity to do good is profoundly contagious.