Reflection – Storytelling

CHALLENGE

I work in a NGO. It works for underprivileged people and  inspire them to improve their circumstances.  Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction in every aspect of their lives, they need to  be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment. I had to work for them and it was my  challenge.

SELECTION

I selected storytelling as a tool of my work. I shared many real stories with the helpless people for  different reasons. I wanted to help them to visualize a state of independence Then I used their feedback  against the context of my story to ascertain their goals and sometimes I use stories to  understand their  interests and thought processes in a better way. I use this tool to develop different strategies to find  more ways that work for them to get more opportunities.

APPLICATION

I apply storytelling for discussing social changes. I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking  actions to develop their livelihoods. I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one   can impact everyone for the better, even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary. I told a story about  when I ran an emergency shelter after a natural disaster. Everyone was doing really well except for one  woman whose stress was making her very emotionally volatile. I could tell she needed attention; in my  mind I decided she would be “Princess for an hour.” I made her a cup of coffee and sat down with her  and let her talk. It turned out that her mother, who was with her, had survived a brain aneurysm and  she was terrified that she would fall or that some other crisis would befall her during this disaster while  in the shelter.

INSIGHT

Her mother was a calm presence and doing very well. Clearly it was time for me to open up with my  story. I told her how scary it was when my father had his brain aneurysm in front of me and how I had to  get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was. I shared how he recovered well, and  then tied us together, by noting how she and I both have parents who survived brain aneurysms. This  worked really well. She really needed individual attention for that brief time, and she ended up with  that and a true support. She calmed down, her mother, who had become worried about her, calmed  down, and everyone around them calmed down. Peace reigned again in our little shelter.

APPROACH

I told this story to the people and I think it had a big impact on people there. I noticed that sometimes a  little story can do a lot of good. This course made me see storytelling  as a tool in a new way. Now I can  prepare  and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them.


Reflection – Storytelling CHALLENGE I work in a NGO . It works for underprivileged people and inspire them to improve their circumstances . Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction in every aspect of their lives , they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment . I had to work for them and it was my challenge . SELECTION I selected storytelling as a tool of my work . I shared many real stories with the helpless people for different reasons . I wanted to help them to visualize a state of independence Then I used their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals and sometimes I use stories to understand their interests and thought processes in a better way . I use this tool to develop different strategies to find more ways that work for them to get more opportunities . APPLICATION I apply storytelling for discussing social changes . I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking actions to develop their livelihoods . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when I ran an emergency shelter after a natural disaster . Everyone was doing really well except for one woman whose stress was making her very emotionally volatile . I could tell she needed attention ; in my mind I decided she would be “ Princess for an hour . ” I made her a cup of coffee and sat down with her and let her talk . It turned out that her mother , who was with her , had survived a brain aneurysm and she was terrified that she would fall or that some other crisis would befall her during this disaster while in the shelter . INSIGHT Her mother was a calm presence and doing very well . Clearly it was time for me to open up with my story . I told her how scary it was when my father had his brain aneurysm in front of me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and scary that all was . I shared how he recovered well , and then tied us together , by noting how she and I both have parents who survived brain aneurysms . This worked really well . She really needed individual attention for that brief time , and she ended up with that and a true support . She calmed down , her mother , who had become worried about her , calmed down , and everyone around them calmed down . Peace reigned again in our little shelter . APPROACH I told this story to the people and I think it had a big impact on people there . I noticed that sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see storytelling as a tool in a new way . Now I can prepare and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them .