REFLECTION - STORYTELLING: ROAD TO POSSIBILITIES

CHALLENGE Storytelling isa very critical and great tool that hasbeen used effectively in the systemlsthat we operate within in Nigeria. These systems include families, Religion centers, civil communities, corporate organisationsand in the Political leadership of the country.

Since my active years as an adult, i have been involved within the Secular and Sacred aspects of our society. In the secular as a HR professional of about 23years and also in the Academia as a Scholar on Professorial level. In the Sacred aspect, I have been an ordained religious minister and also a Certified Chaplain. In all these, I have seen the sufferings of Youths, qualified professionals that are unemployed, hurting single parents, rape victims and seniors that live with regrets of missed opportunities. Many of them as you can see from the recent Protests across Nigeria are really hurting and have to face oppression and Injustice from those that were supposed to protect them. Summarily, these category of people need more than just motivational talks but real empowerment and inspiration. Their level of confidence of many that i encounter has been so depleted that counseling hasbecome a skill that hasto be kept handy.

SELECTION Sharing stories have always helped with my cross vocational commitment to inspire change and bring hope to the hopeless situations and circumstances these categories of people are confronted by. Being a good communicator, I often find myself in situations where sharing stories really play a strong role in achieving the intended goal of bringing message of hope and possibility to the vulnerable.

As interesting as my side is, the main crux is the flip side of the coin - the stories shared by all the people i encounter about their experiences, fears, apprehensions, the weak grab on the possibility that things could actually take a positive turn. These are the trigger and boost that kept me on for all these years. Since stories have capacity to connect, i relate my personal experiences and those of others that some of them could verify amd how I was able to pull through, this brings a ray of hope to them and in turn helps them visualize a state of them achieving true happinessin the hopefully not distant future.

These engagements helps me connect with themand also helps to perceive and understand their goals, interests and thought processes which in turn facilitates the development of required strategiesthat can be adapted or adopted to addresstheir unique situations.

APPLICATION I remember a stuation of a female youth on the verge of commiting suicide because she was fed up of virtually everything all around her. Things were not just working despite the push she was providing. In the practical application of it, i used storytelling to convey to a teamthat was being frustrated about ideas they felt was good but was not just sailing through. They had tried modifying many times all to no avail. I brought on board the story of this young lady and showed them how opening up to having an open mind helped to ensure she pulled through although it took gradual but progressive steps that had graduated movements and she also celebrated micro wins, mini wins and later she was able to celebrate mega wins. This team was afraid they would lose their drive and that many factors especially economic and financial resources where gradually becoming lean. At the point of sharing the story the young woman had settled in her home with an understanding husband and two lovely children. At thispoint the teambegan to be

more open and not just be rigid with a fixed mindset.

INSIGHT At this point, i observed that the fear of the team was shrinking economic and financial resources and issue of time working against them. They knew if they did not make progress the whole project would be shut down.

Now that the story had been kickstarted, I made it clear to the team on how frustrated the young woman was and that she was at the point of committing suicide. The point she opened up and discontinued the fixed mindset she had was very key to the turnaround. I shared how she had a very real turnaround and the sequence of events fromthe challenge she presented and the journey to the point where she was able to actualize her dreams and she is no longer suicidal. This was well received by the team. She really needed individual attention that would guide her out of the gloomy and suicidal situation she had found herself. Right now the team is moving gradually but steadily and no longer have a fixed mindset or a feeling that things would implode becuase it appeared many factorswere up and against them.

APPROACH Storytelling had played a very strong role in dimensions of my involvements and i can tell that it has lots of inspirational value that has and will further help me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them. From this encounter, i have been able to understand better the four dimensions of questions revolving around Design Thinking: What Is? What If? What Wows? and What Works?. It has also opened me up seriously to the world of Possibilities despite the challenges on ground and all around.


REFLECTION - STORYTELLING : ROAD TO POSSIBILITIES CHALLENGE Storytelling isa very critical and great tool that hasbeen used effectively in the systemlsthat we operate within in Nigeria . These systems include families , Religion centers , civil communities , corporate organisationsand in the Political leadership of the country . Since my active years as an adult , i have been involved within the Secular and Sacred aspects of our society . In the secular as a HR professional of about 23years and also in the Academia as a Scholar on Professorial level . In the Sacred aspect , I have been an ordained religious minister and also a Certified Chaplain . In all these , I have seen the sufferings of Youths , qualified professionals that are unemployed , hurting single parents , rape victims and seniors that live with regrets of missed opportunities . Many of them as you can see from the recent Protests across Nigeria are really hurting and have to face oppression and Injustice from those that were supposed to protect them . Summarily , these category of people need more than just motivational talks but real empowerment and inspiration . Their level of confidence of many that i encounter has been so depleted that counseling hasbecome a skill that hasto be kept handy . SELECTION Sharing stories have always helped with my cross vocational commitment to inspire change and bring hope to the hopeless situations and circumstances these categories of people are confronted by . Being a good communicator , I often find myself in situations where sharing stories really play a strong role in achieving the intended goal of bringing message of hope and possibility to the vulnerable . As interesting as my side is , the main crux is the flip side of the coin - the stories shared by all the people i encounter about their experiences , fears , apprehensions , the weak grab on the possibility that things could actually take a positive turn . These are the trigger and boost that kept me on for all these years . Since stories have capacity to connect , i relate my personal experiences and those of others that some of them could verify amd how I was able to pull through , this brings a ray of hope to them and in turn helps them visualize a state of them achieving true happinessin the hopefully not distant future . These engagements helps me connect with themand also helps to perceive and understand their goals , interests and thought processes which in turn facilitates the development of required strategiesthat can be adapted or adopted to addresstheir unique situations . APPLICATION I remember a stuation of a female youth on the verge of commiting suicide because she was fed up of virtually everything all around her . Things were not just working despite the push she was providing . In the practical application of it , i used storytelling to convey to a teamthat was being frustrated about ideas they felt was good but was not just sailing through . They had tried modifying many times all to no avail . I brought on board the story of this young lady and showed them how opening up to having an open mind helped to ensure she pulled through although it took gradual but progressive steps that had graduated movements and she also celebrated micro wins , mini wins and later she was able to celebrate mega wins . This team was afraid they would lose their drive and that many factors especially economic and financial resources where gradually becoming lean . At the point of sharing the story the young woman had settled in her home with an understanding husband and two lovely children . At thispoint the teambegan to be more open and not just be rigid with a fixed mindset . INSIGHT At this point , i observed that the fear of the team was shrinking economic and financial resources and issue of time working against them . They knew if they did not make progress the whole project would be shut down . Now that the story had been kickstarted , I made it clear to the team on how frustrated the young woman was and that she was at the point of committing suicide . The point she opened up and discontinued the fixed mindset she had was very key to the turnaround . I shared how she had a very real turnaround and the sequence of events fromthe challenge she presented and the journey to the point where she was able to actualize her dreams and she is no longer suicidal . This was well received by the team . She really needed individual attention that would guide her out of the gloomy and suicidal situation she had found herself . Right now the team is moving gradually but steadily and no longer have a fixed mindset or a feeling that things would implode becuase it appeared many factorswere up and against them . APPROACH Storytelling had played a very strong role in dimensions of my involvements and i can tell that it has lots of inspirational value that has and will further help me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . From this encounter , i have been able to understand better the four dimensions of questions revolving around Design Thinking : What Is ? What If ? What Wows ? and What Works ? . It has also opened me up seriously to the world of Possibilities despite the challenges on ground and all around .