Last night I had a conversation with someone about the classes I want to start giving in the fall. I’m investigating what would be most supportive to people.
This person told me: “I want to have the courage to start conversations that I’m now so scared to have.”
I asked her what would give her courage.
She said: “If there’s a group that I’m a part of, with people who are dedicated to also having “scary” conversations, that would help me.”
I then had this thought: maybe courage is the result of having enough support.
Both outward support: in the form of a group, as well as inward support: a regular practice to master what you want to be able to do AND a clear vision of where you are heading.
Which reminded me of this video by a fellow named Marshall Rosenberg. He actually summed up these three elements for…well I guess he summed up three requirements for courage:
After talking some more with this person, we came up with a focus on these needs: Discipline, imagination, support and inspiration.
Then we came up with a lesson plan:
A weekly class in real life at a place that has a “warm” atmosphere.
Every week a new topic for variety. For people who are dedicated to care for themselves as much as the other, especially when things get tensed. We following the example of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
We start the class with 1-on-1 celebrating, and processing the week, and get to know each other.
Then I’ll share my take on the topic of that week to start the class off and provide some inspiration.
Then we split into pairs to talk about the subject of the week to find inspiration to work with during the class.
Then we practice a situation in pairs or in the group, whatever you prefer.
After the practice and questions with the group we move to integration by yourself:
– Where do you see yourself going in the future?
– What’s one step you can take this week?
– What internal support do you need for that?
– What externale support do you need for that?
We then do a closing circle.
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To have that continious support from the group, we need some cohesion. Twenty percent of the spots will be available for new people, eighty percent of the spots will be available for returning group members.
This way we think we can actually feel the support from a group, perhaps even a sense of belonging, during the class and also during the week: when we need the courage to have that conversation that we know we need to have, but just needed a little bit of support for.
I’m going to talk this plan over with various people to get an even fuller picture and I also have a place in mind. I will keep you posted about this process on this website.
In the meantime I’d love to hear your perspective: do you have any suggestions, concerns or questions reading this?