Example Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is a great tool which I always use. I consult with disadvantaged

populations, people with intellectual disabilities, senior citizens and those with

economic disadvantages. Many of these people in every aspect of their lives deal with

oppression and dysfunction, need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to

empowerment. I'm spending a lot of time "opening up people" and finding ways to

inspire them to improve their situation. When I work with the seniors, for different

reasons, we share stories. They are often lonely and so happy to share their life stories

with me to connect and find meaning in sharing these experiences as a form of

teaching and/or legacy; In a word. I share stories of my life with my developmentally

disabled clients to help them visualize a state of independence, use their feedback

against the context of my story to ascertain their goals, and sometimes we use stories

to better understand their interests and processes of thinking. I use this information to

develop different strategies in order to try to find a way to gain more independence in

the areas that they find lacking in their lives.

Application

I have a story about how to use storytelling. In discussing policy changes with a social

service agency, I tried to explain to them the benefits of, among other things, taking a

more client-focused approach and, in particular, recognizing each individual as a

unique being, and addressing their individual needs in the first place. The organization

was in the grip of a "compliance mentality" and, in this non-empathic, hierarchical

system, its clients suffered. I was also explaining how dealing with one individual's

needs can sometimes impact everyone for the better, even if it seems extreme or out of

the ordinary. I told a story about after a natural disaster, when I ran an emergency

shelter. Except for one woman whose stress made her very emotionally volatile,

everyone was doing really well. I could tell that she needed attention; I decided to be

"Princess for an hour" in my mind. I made her a cup of coffee and sat down with her,

letting 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 she would encounter some

other crisis while in shelter during this disaster.

Insight & Approach

Well, wow, this has been an eye-opener. Her mother was a quiet presence, and very

well done. It was obviously time for me to open my story up. I told her how terrifying

it was when my father had his brain aneurysm before me and how I had to get him to

the hospital and how difficult and frightening that was all. I shared how well he

recovered, and then tied us together, noting that she and I both had parents who had

brain aneurysms. This worked fine. For that brief time she really needed individual

attention and she ended up with that and a real support. She calmed down, her mother,

worried about her, calmed down, and they calmed down everybody around them. In

our little shelter Peace reigned once again.

So I told the organization this story and I think it was having a significant effect on the

people there. The policies are being re-evaluated, and new training is underway for the

caseworkers. A little story can do quite a lot of good at times. This course has made

me see this in a new way as an instrument. When I did it before it was "ad hoc" but

I can now prepare ahead and think of stories that will help me to present my ideas and

illuminate them best.

I have a background in design but I ended up in business as an entrepreneur. I had no

idea that this would ever be regarded as an asset, but I am so grateful that it is!


Example Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is a great tool which I always use . I consult with disadvantaged populations , people with intellectual disabilities , senior citizens and those with economic disadvantages . Many of these people in every aspect of their lives deal with oppression and dysfunction , need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment . I 'm spending a lot of time " opening up people " and finding ways to inspire them to improve their situation . When I work with the seniors , for different reasons , we share stories . They are often lonely and so happy to share their life stories with me to connect and find meaning in sharing these experiences as a form of teaching and/or legacy ; In a word . I share stories of my life with my developmentally disabled clients to help them visualize a state of independence , use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and processes of thinking . I use this information to develop different strategies in order to try to find a way to gain more independence in the areas that they find lacking in their lives . Application I have a story about how to use storytelling . In discussing policy changes with a social service agency , I tried to explain to them the benefits of , among other things , taking a more client - focused approach and , in particular , recognizing each individual as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs in the first place . The organization was in the grip of a " compliance mentality " and , in this non - empathic , hierarchical system , its clients suffered . I was also explaining how dealing with one individual 's needs can sometimes impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about after a natural disaster , when I ran an emergency shelter . Except for one woman whose stress made her very emotionally volatile , everyone was doing really well . I could tell that she needed attention ; I decided to be " Princess for an hour " in my mind . I made her a cup of coffee and sat down with her , letting 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 she would encounter some other crisis while in shelter during this disaster . Insight & Approach Well , wow , this has been an eye - opener . Her mother was a quiet presence , and very well done . It was obviously time for me to open my story up . I told her how terrifying it was when my father had his brain aneurysm before me and how I had to get him to the hospital and how difficult and frightening that was all . I shared how well he recovered , and then tied us together , noting that she and I both had parents who had brain aneurysms . This worked fine . For that brief time she really needed individual attention and she ended up with that and a real support . She calmed down , her mother , worried about her , calmed down , and they calmed down everybody around them . In our little shelter Peace reigned once again . So I told the organization this story and I think it was having a significant effect on the people there . The policies are being re - evaluated , and new training is underway for the caseworkers . A little story can do quite a lot of good at times . This course has made me see this in a new way as an instrument . When I did it before it was " ad hoc " but I can now prepare ahead and think of stories that will help me to present my ideas and illuminate them best . I have a background in design but I ended up in business as an entrepreneur . I had no idea that this would ever be regarded as an asset , but I am so grateful that it is !