--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stories set the inner life into motion…" description: "\"“Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg" --- # Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is… ![“Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the hoists and pulleys, it causes adrenaline to surge, shows us the way out, down, or up, and for our trouble, cuts for us fine wide doors in previously…” quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg) > ““Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the hoists and pulleys, it causes adrenaline to surge, shows us the way out, down, or up, and for our trouble, cuts for us fine wide doors in previously blank walls, openings that lead to the dreamland, that lead to love and learning, that lead us back to our own real lives as knowing wildish women.”” [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stories activate the inner psyche, especially when it feels trapped, providing emotional release and pathways to growth, love, and authentic living. **In simple terms:** Stories unlock inner fear and guide toward growth. Key Takeaway Use storytelling to navigate inner challenges. Themes psychology storytelling growth healing Mood inspirational hopeful Type mythic psychological When to use this quote - therapy - creative writing - personal development - education Key Concepts mythology inner child Questions to Reflect On - What story has helped you move past fear? - How can you create narratives that heal? A Different Perspective Stories may not resonate with everyone’s experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) [Dreamland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamland/) [Inner life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion/) [Pulleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulleys/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wild woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-woman/) ## Related quotes > [“We chased her across the Pont-Neuf and through the Bois de Boulogne, kicking up leaves, and one day we knew that no matter where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-schur/we-chased-her-across-the-pont-neuf-and-through-the-bois-de-boulogne/) Karen Schur > [We never get to the bottom of ourselves on our own. We discover who we are face to face and side by side with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-neelly-bellah/we-never-get-to-the-bottom-of-ourselves-on-our-own-we-discover-who-we/) [Robert Neelly Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-neelly-bellah/) > [“You become a man when, in having children, you not only physically look after and protect them but also protect them with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/you-become-a-man-when-in-having-children-you-not-only-physically-look/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [Sometimes I feel I'm living a meaningless life, and I get frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/sometimes-i-feel-i-m-living-a-meaningless-life-and-i-get-frightened/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [The man who is not frightened of life is not frightened of being completely insecure for he understands that inwardly, psychologically, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-man-who-is-not-frightened-of-life-is-not-frightened-of-being/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“His fear came from needing her. It was the danger to her life that frightened him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-osterlund/his-fear-came-from-needing-her-it-was-the-danger-to-her-life-that/) [Anne Osterlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-osterlund/) > [I spend plenty of time in London and it doesn't scare me, but it's a lonely place, even if you've got friends there. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-henderson/i-spend-plenty-of-time-in-london-and-it-doesn-t-scare-me-but-it-s-a/) [Shirley Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-henderson/) > [For me, it's quite important, my inner being, my - in my work, if I can give a person a little encouragement, a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mercado/for-me-it-s-quite-important-my-inner-being-my-in-my-work-if-i-can/) [Walter Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mercado/) > [“The body is extremely important for Inner Work, because it is a reliable reality check in ways that our minds and emotions (the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-richard-riso/the-body-is-extremely-important-for-inner-work-because-it-is-a/) [Don Richard Riso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-richard-riso/) > [It is important that we have the inner richness to be able to look up at the stars or the moon and compose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/it-is-important-that-we-have-the-inner-richness-to-be-able-to-look-up/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [I often tease young people about their concern for how they look; more important is inner beauty - compassion, affection and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-often-tease-young-people-about-their-concern-for-how-they-look-more/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The enemy of the moment is not as important as our own inner weakness. If this is not mended we are already defeated, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/the-enemy-of-the-moment-is-not-as-important-as-our-own-inner-weakness/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [Our stories can set us free. When we set them free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/our-stories-can-set-us-free-when-we-set-them-free/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [I've read stories that are set in a celebrity's house, and you know where it is and what it looks like and what's inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-ve-read-stories-that-are-set-in-a-celebrity-s-house-and-you-know/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [Stories set in the Culture in which Things Went Wrong tended to start with humans losing or forgetting or deliberately leaving behind their terminal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stories-set-in-the-culture-in-which-things-went-wrong-tended-to-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Clarissa Pinkola Estés > [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Whether you are possessed of a simple heart or the ambitions of an Amazon, whether you are trying to make it to the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/whether-you-are-possessed-of-a-simple-heart-or-the-ambitions-of-an/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/the-doors-to-the-world-of-the-wild-self-are-few-but-precious-if-you/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Friends who love you and have warmth for your creative life are the very best suns in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/friends-who-love-you-and-have-warmth-for-your-creative-life-are-the/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Creativity is not a solitary movement. That is its power. Whatever is touched by it, whoever hears it, sees it, senses it, knows it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/creativity-is-not-a-solitary-movement-that-is-its-power-whatever-is/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [A healthy woman is much like a wolf: robust, chock-full, strong life force, life-giving, territorially aware, inventive, loyal, roving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/a-healthy-woman-is-much-like-a-wolf-robust-chock-full-strong-life/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Dogs are the magicians of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/dogs-are-the-magicians-of-the-universe/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/ours-is-not-the-task-of-fixing-the-entire-world-all-at-once-but-of/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Being real doesn't mean being reckless, it means allowing La Voz Mitologica, The Mythological Voice, to speak. One does that by shutting off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/being-real-doesn-t-mean-being-reckless-it-means-allowing-la-voz/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Without art we live under the illusion that there is only time, and not eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/without-art-we-live-under-the-illusion-that-there-is-only-time-and/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“Some psychological thinkers, including Freud and Bettelheim, have interpreted episodes such as those found in the Bluebeard tale as psychological punishments for women’s sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/some-psychological-thinkers-including-freud-and-bettelheim-have/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman… have faith. There is yet time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/if-you-have-never-been-called-a-defiant-incorrigible-impossible-woman/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [we all begin the process before we are ready, before we are strong enough, before we know enough; we begin a dialogue with thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/we-all-begin-the-process-before-we-are-ready-before-we-are-strong/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [“To love a woman, the mate must also love her wildish nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/to-love-a-woman-the-mate-must-also-love-her-wildish-nature/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estés](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) [Explore all 223 Clarissa Pinkola Estés quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) ## More Adrenaline quotes > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-get-called-an-adrenaline-junkie-every-other-minute-and-i-m-just/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [There’s something insupportable about being pissed with the one person on this planet that sends your adrenaline flowing to remind you that you’re alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/there-s-something-insupportable-about-being-pissed-with-the-one/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) [Browse all 510 Adrenaline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the hoists and pulleys, it causes adrenaline to surge, shows us the way out, down, or up, and for our trouble, cuts for us fine wide doors in previously blank walls, openings that lead to the dreamland, that lead to love and learning, that lead us back to our own real lives as knowing wildish women.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clarissa Pinkola Estés" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-and-this-is-particularly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adrenaline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-and-this-is-particularly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarissa-pinkola-estes-1461_adrenaline_stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-a_2609596.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Stories set the inner life into motion, and this is particularly important where the inner life is…” — Clarissa Pinkola Estés", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clarissa Pinkola Estés", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Stories set the inner life into...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-and-this-is-particularly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/stories-set-the-inner-life-into-motion-and-this-is-particularly/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```