Session 2: Acceptance, Empathy & Social Justice
2.3 Sharing of Take-Away Activities: Mindfulness and Getting Stuck
Learning Objectives:
- To review previous material on mindfulness, principles of ACT
- To reflect on the application of ACE within our everyday lives
- To gain a deeper understanding of mindfulness and ACT by sharing lived experiences, strategies and tips
Materials:
- (Appendix 5) In-session Handout 1.5.2 – Diagrams of ACE in sheet protector (to be distributed at the beginning of each session and collected at the end of each session)
- Worksheets 4 and 5 as completed by participants
- Stigma Resistance Tool Kit (as typed up from notes collected in Session 1)
Time Required: 45 Minutes
Activities & Instructions
Instructions to Participants:
Part A: Sharing of Mindfulness Practice
Facilitator says, “Our next activity is on sharing of our take-away activities. We will start with sharing experiences and insights on practicing mindfulness. There are no right or wrong answers. There is an opportunity for us to learn from each other. We hope that you are willing to share your experiences and insights. Who would like to share?”
Notes to Facilitators
- Facilitators use a notepad to write down key words or ideas of participants’ sharing and refer to these points during debriefing to make the discussions relevant to participants.
- During participants’ sharing, highlight how practicing mindfulness is possible in everyday activities, i.e., mindfulness does not require us to always stop and be still; it is about being aware of what is happening in the present moment and taking stock of how each of our senses are involved in that present moment.
- Provide your own examples of mindfulness, such as washing dishes and mindful walking.
- Acknowledge the challenges that some participants may bring up during this sharing:
- The contradiction between mindfulness and the fast-paced and goal-oriented driven nature of our society
- Solution: incorporating mindfulness in our everyday active lives
- Connect, where possible, examples provided to collective strategies.
- For example, turning what everyone in the group has written up about her/his/their mindfulness practice into a collection of mindfulness strategies and share them with each other
Key Summary Points
- Mindfulness is not only valuable to ourselves, but is also valuable to those that we work with in the community.
- When our peers, clients or colleagues are overwhelmed with challenges and demands, we can support them by sharing mindfulness strategies with them.
- The present moment is available to everyone and sharing strategies will support our collective empowerment.
Part B – Sharing of “Getting Stuck”
Set-up:
(Display the ACE model diagram – Resources 2.3.1.)
Facilitator says, “Thank you for sharing. Now we will move on to the next take-away activity – Getting Stuck. You may bring out your take-away worksheet and we will begin sharing.”
Facilitator continues, “Since we last met, and now knowing what you know about ACE, did you experience moments when you caught yourself engaging in certain thoughts, stories or rules that get you stuck?”
Notes to Facilitators
- Invite participants who have not shared their take-away activity experiences so far to share first.
- Remind participants that these take-away activities are not about finding solutions; they are about developing an awareness of our autopilot habits or fusion with thoughts and rules that get us stuck.
- Draw from participants’ sharing how personal and societal factors shape our psychological rigidity or flexibility.
Some examples:- I don’t go swimming because I worry about what people are thinking about my body. (avoidance)
- If I didn’t want to be a doctor, I would have a robust social life. (thinking about the past/future)
- I am too tall. (attachment to ideas/thoughts about self)
- People have gone through worse, so who am I to complain? (cognitive fusion)
- Whenever possible, connect the examples provided back to the ACT diagram.
Part C – Sharing of Stigma Resistance Tool Kit
Distribute the list of resistance strategies compiled from participants’ notes from Session One (Worksheet 1.7.1)
Key Summary Points
- Being aware and mindful is the first step towards psychological flexibility and empowerment. Today and over the next two training days, we will continue to learn more about the ACE model and strategies.
- Since mindfulness and empowerment are processes, it is only through practice that we will benefit from these strategies.
- Encourage participants to continue to keep track of their take-away activities to help us gain insight.
