Take aways may include: self reflection on giving and receiving, preparing ahead for hard times, respecting limitations, reverence for life force.

Parameters: can be done individually or as a group, in person or virtually. If sharing out after the reflective activity, create smaller groups depending on the comfort level of participants.

Materials: Nice paper or journals and writing utensils. Outline of a teacup with saucer for people nervous about their drawing skills. This should be something people can keep and refer to often.

This is a self care metaphor. The teacup is our body or capacity. The tea is our energy or input. What’s on the saucer is our output, what we have to give others. This metaphor suggests we need a full cup of energy and can give from the overflow!

Invite people to draw a teacup and saucer on a piece of paper and/or provide an outline. Instruct people to draw arrows pointing to the saucer, the fill line, the 3/4 full line, the 1/2 full line and the 1/4 full line.

• At the full line, write about the activities that “fill my cup.” These could be self maintenance things like hygiene, sleep, nutrition, etc. They can also be solo or group self care things like going to church, journaling, etc.
• At the 3/4 line, write about the bodily sensations and thoughts that alert me I’m dipping under “full.” Maybe it’s wanting to cut corners, getting more easily irritated or distracted, etc. Note that these sensations are much more subtle than they are when you feel depleted.
• At the1/2 line write about the stop gap measures I can take to not dip below 1/2. These are things you can start or stop doing so you refill your cup.
• At the 1/4 line, write about the interventions and beings I can rely on to help me if I find myself here. When we’re depleted it can be hard to remember how to refill!