(10 minutes)

Materials

• Paper and pens or pencils for all participants
• Newsprint, markers, and wall-safe tape
• Clock or timer
• Bell or chime

Preparation

• Ensure that each participant has a comfortable space for writing.
• Write these questions on newsprint, and post it where all participants can see it:
  • What were the circumstances?
  • What choices did you have to make?
  • What skills or information did you seek to help you?
  • What spiritual and emotional resources did you need?
  • Did you feel prepared spiritually and emotionally for the challenge?
  • How could you have been better prepared?
  • What did you learn? How did this experience change you?
  • How did or does your experience contribute to your perception of yourself as a leader?

Description

Invite participants to recall a moment of crisis in their own lives, a moment when they had some choices to make. It might be a work, family, or health crisis, or a crisis that emerged out of a commitment or goal they were pursuing. Allow a full minute of silence for participants to bring a moment of crisis to mind.

Indicate the questions you posted on newsprint. Distribute paper and writing implements and tell participants that they will have ten minutes to write or silently meditate in response to the questions. Say that they will not be asked to share their reflections with one another but, rather, are invited to find some personal grounding to bring into activities that follow in this workshop.

Read the questions aloud. Give participants time to write.

Ring a bell or chime after 10 minutes. Invite participants to finish writing or reflecting and to return their attention to the group. Ask for brief feedback about the experience of considering their own spiritual and emotional resources.