This was one of the first, very significant reflection strategies I engaged with as both a participant of an adventure-based program and a facilitator.
I love it a LOT because of the inherent power of affirmations, I hope you do too.
First, this experience should be saved for those programs in which your group has been together for a long, substantive period of time. It is necessary for the group members to know one another well, so perhaps this would work at the end of a school term, or a corporate retreat, a residential camp, etc.
In advance, you’ll need to produce a copy of the Accepting Yourself worksheet, one per person. You can create your own, but you can also download one from the Resources tab to get you started.
Be sure to allow ample time for the reflection and discussion. Up to an hour sometimes, but of course, this all depends on the number of people you plan to involve. If possible, keep your group size to about 12 to 15 people, and divide into smaller groups of this number if you have to.
Once you have gathered your group, distribute a copy of the worksheet to each person, and pens if necessary.
Frame the experience as desired, often referring to the safe and affirming environment within which you expect to facilitate it.
Armed with their worksheet and a pen, ask each person to spend some time on their own to answer the first question (or section) of the worksheet. Feel free to edit as required.
There are many ways to frame this question, but it is often focused on strengths, contributions and accomplishments.
Most people will need at least 5 to 10 minutes to reflect and respond to this question. Don’t rush it, but your group will not need 30 minutes either.
When ready, re-gather your group, possibly sitting in a circle so everyone can see and hear each other.
Announce that in a few minutes you will invite each person to share what they wrote on their worksheets and immediately after, you will invite the rest of the group to add their thoughts. Often it is in these added thoughts the most valuable insights are gathered.
To this end, ask for a volunteer to record these thoughts (on the worksheet) on behalf of the individual receiving the feedback, ie this way the person receiving the affirmations can be present to this feedback.
Once you have a volunteer scribe in place, ask for your first volunteer. They will share their strengths/contributions/accomplishments and then, guided by you, invite the rest of the group to add their thoughts.
Note, it is not necessary for all (other) members of the group to say something. This will be hard for some people to curb their enthusiasm, but in the interest of time, it is necessary.
In my experience, most people develop a short list of their strengths, so the affirmations which follow from the group are so very powerful. It is not uncommon to see tears shed during the exercise.
When ready, invite the next person to share, along with a new volunteer scribe to standby ready to take notes when the time comes.
This process continues until all group members have shared.
Be sure to keep a box of tissues close by.
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Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?