River of Life

Overview River of Life This exercise allows for personal and professional sharing of one’s journey through life thus far. The sharing is done in small groups of at least five people, with 8-10 minutes per speaker. Objectives The exercise helps to share in samll groups and create real connectedness at the workplace.  It is a visual narrative of one’s past, present and future. It focusses on drawing rather than on text. Activities 1.     Work in small groups of 5 people each.  Read this full page carefully – 5 minutes. 2.     Each Person  will work independantly and draw his /her River of Life. Each member will take turns sharing and once he/she has completed, other members may respond with: 1.     Thank You [name] for your sharing…..or 2.     This part of your River of Lfe connects with me….[shares ]. 5.AAllow for 10m each round, and then move to next member. Adaptations One can adapt with variation. Eg. What Values did I pick up along te way? Or at the end, at this moment my Personal Purpose today is…… Evaluation At the end of the exercise the facilitator may solicit, How did you feel doing the exercise?

Materials You will need: 1.     A stop watch/timer (phone app). 2.     A chart paper / marker pen Other Resources Ensure you have a quiet environment, free from external interruption.

Self Exploration – One’s Feelings 30 minute exercise

Overview Handles most painful feelings and moods that arise on a day-to-day basis. The exercise allows for deep inward process of discovery. This is done by peeling away the psych as one does with an onion. This is done in pairs, and both sides will have 10 minutes each way, or whatever time gets agreed at the start. Objectives The exercise helps to delve and explore deep feelings. This itself clears the air and brings a person back to balance and clarity. Activities 1.     Work in pairs. Read this full page carefully – 5 minutes. 2.     The Person being asked the question is the one who will decide the question. (eg, What’s bothering YOU, <first name>?). 3.     The facilitator does not interrupt or give advice…Ever. 4.     When question is answered, the facilitator, says, ‘thank you for sharing’ and asks the same question again. 5.     Allow for 10m each round, and then switch roles. Adaptations One can adapt with the ‘positive –negative’ variation. Eg. What is making you feel upset?” and follow up with “What are you feeling good about?’ Evaluation If the exercise does not meet the objectives, it may be necessary to do a trauma clearing. For this exercise the person may wish to use rapid eye movements, at any comfortable speed from left to right, absentmindedly and automatically, and paying attention only to feelings, insights, thoughts and memories.

Materials You will need: 1.     A stop watch/timer (phone app). 2.     Sit at right angle to each other using two chairs. Other Resources Ensure you have a quiet environment, free from external interruption.

Self Exploration – Clearing Traumas

Self Exploration – Clearing Traumas		75 minute exercise

Overview 1.     Complete the self-exploration exercise first as per instructions first. Objectives 2.     The exercise helps to delve and explore deep feelings and painful memories. As the memory is relived several times the emotions change and finally the feelings are less emotional. Activities 3.     Ask, ‘what are the uncomfortable feelings you are feeling?’ 4.     Facilitator to write down the feelings in a note pad. 5.     The facilitator does not interrupt or give advice…Ever. 6.     The facilitator ask, “what is the corresponding negative belief in Life connected to these feelings” (example – People I love hurt me). 7.     When question is answered, the facilitator, says, ‘when have you felt this before? 8.     How could you magically heal all these feelings connected to this memory? 9.     Ask Person to invoke a memory just like a still photo and go through it silently reliving it again. 10.   Now relieve the memory aloud, but in present continuous tense. 11.   Repeat step 9 and step 10  a few more times ( minimum 4) 12.   Then as the person to merge the new still photo, with the original one – Ask, what is happening to the Picture? 13.   Often, a panic attack may arise. Encourage the person to breath deeply. Adaptations One can adapt with the ‘positive –negative’ variation. Eg. What is making you feel upset?” and follow up with “What are you feeling good about?’ Evaluation If the exercise does not meet the objectives, it may be necessary to work with an earlier memory rather than the one chosen. For this exercise the person may wish to use rapid eye movements, at any comfortable speed from left to right, absentmindedly and automatically, and paying attention only to feelings, insights, thoughts and memories.

Materials You will need: 1.     A stop watch/timer (phone app). 2.     Sit at right angle to each other using two chairs. Other Resources Ensure you have a quiet environment, free from external interruption. Allow for sufficient time and allowing person to be in ‘healing bubble’.