8/13/2019 Stories and Change

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http://changingminds.org/blog/blog_subject/blog_storytelling.h

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Stories and change

On one of the better change management courses that I attended several years ago,

we were given the task of writing a 'fairy story' -- something that said something aboutchange and life: perhaps a personal story or maybe just a story.

It seemed a silly eercise and a few people felt too uncomfortable and backed out.!hose of us who took on the challenge found it a remarkably transformationaleperience. "ust listening to what others wrote, many of whom were senior managersin a global company, was worth the course alone. #eep troubles and marvelous wisdomcame out from the depths of their subconscious minds, playing into poignant andbeautiful stories.

$ere's what I wrote, at around three o'clock in the morning, after much scribbles,revisions and starting from scratch again. It pretty much came out complete as is, justas my brain had turned to soup: 

The Conquering Spirit

!he elven king called together his three sons. %It is time for you tomake your mark.% he told them, %&eyond our borders are unknown

worlds of dragons, maidens and black-hearted knights. o out andcon(uer.%

)nd so his sons ate the feast of the departing, donned the green andset out across the world.

*

)fter three years, the first son returned and the whole court came

out to greet him. %+hat have you con(uered% asked the king.

%I have slain dragons, rescued maidens and van(uished blackknights.% spoke the son. %I have con(uered lands such that ourterritories are now doubled in sie.%

%&oldly done% said the king, gravely, %!hose new lands shall be yourkingdom to rule and protect.%

*

)fter three more years, the second son returned, and the wholefamily came out to greet him.

%+hat have you con(uered% asked the king.

%I have parlayed with dragons, negotiated with black knights andmade the maidens fair swoon.% replied the son. %I have con(uered

the minds and hearts of ten kingdoms, and we now have fond alliesall of the way to the )ure /ea.%

%&rightly done% cried the king, %0ou shall be my most noble lord,ambassador in my stead to all of the lands.%

*

)fter three more years, the third son did not return. )fter three

further years, he still did not return. )fter three years again, aragged stranger walked alone up the steps to the royal court.

!he old king was the only person to recognie the stranger. $e camedown from his throne, embraced his third son deeply, and then

asked, %+hat have you con(uered%

8/13/2019 Stories and Change

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!he son smiled a long smile.

%I have slept with dragons and caroused with knights. I have danced

with maidens and sung with the children. I have laughed with oldmen on the (uay and cried with old women left alone. I have howledat the moon and lain in the sun. I have scaled high mountains andseen distant lands of mystery and promise. I have plumbed thedepths and met magicians of the mind.

%I lost some fear and gained some wonder. I lost some of myself andfound some of other people. I tore down the walls of ignorance andfound many more. )nd I have found my way home. I have no needto con(uer or fight or persuade. !oday is now enough for a lifetime.%

) deep silence fell over the court as the king thought long and fullyabout what his son had said.

%+isely done.% he said, eventually, %1or you have con(ueredyourself, and the world and the worlds beyond shall be yourplayground.%