How would you treat a close friend?
Preparation: 5 min
Time required: 10 min
Ask everyone in the group to sit or stand a little apart from each other. Everyone in the group should now think about a tough situation they have been through, whether in the activity or in life outside it. Then they should think of good advice and support they would give to a good friend for when they find themselves in the same situation. Finally, they should say their words of support and advice out loud to themselves.
Reflect
We will now take a short time to do an exercise on self-compassion. Sit or stand with some distance to each other.
If you want to talk to me or another leader about something that you thought about in connection with the exercise, it is of course fine!
Think of a time when a close friend has really felt bad about him or herself in some way, when he or she has been really struggling. It could be something that happened in real life or you could imagine a scenario.
How would you treat your friend in that situation? What would you have done, what would you have said and how would you have talked to your friend, what tone would you have used for example?
Now think of a situation where you yourself have been struggling. How do you talk to yourself in this situation? Think, in as much detail as you can, about what you say, what tone you use and how you treat yourself in general when you feel like this.
Did you notice any difference? What did that difference look like? Why do you think there was a difference between how you treat yourself and how you treat your friend? In particular, reflect on whether there are any fears that influence.
Finally, write down how things might be different if you start treating yourself as if you were a good friend when you are struggling.
