Making Courageous Decisions
This activity helps participants explore the concept of courage by identifying situations where they feel fear and practicing values-driven responses. It encourages vulnerability and self-compassion to foster a growth mindset.
Use this method when you want to help a group build trust and psychological safety by exploring personal challenges and supporting each other in taking courageous action.
Solves: Fear of failure preventing individuals from taking risks or pursuing meaningful goals.
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Step 1: Introduce the distinction between bravery and courage (5-10 mins). Share a personal story illustrating courage as acting despite fear.
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Step 2: Pair up participants and have each person share a meaningful goal they've been avoiding, explaining the underlying value and what's holding them back (10 mins). The listener remains silent and attentive.
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Step 3: In the same pairs, the listener reflects back what they heard, saw, and felt while listening, using sentence starters like 'I heard...', 'I saw...', 'I felt...' (20 mins). Follow with a group reflection, inviting participants to share their experiences.
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Step 4: Give each participant two sticky notes and ask them to write down something they find difficult to say and something they're afraid to hear in relation to their goal (15 mins). Have them practice saying these things in pairs.
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Step 5: Guide participants through a reflective journaling exercise with specific prompts, allowing 2 minutes per prompt (20 mins). Conclude with a brief group reflection on key takeaways.
- Emphasize that vulnerability is key to this activity's success.
- Create a safe space by setting clear boundaries and encouraging compassionate listening.
- Remind participants that it's okay to feel uncomfortable, but they shouldn't push themselves into a panic zone.
- Have participants create a short action plan at the end of the activity.
- Use this activity as a warm-up for decision-making in a project.
- Follow up later to reflect on whether participants have taken steps toward their intentions.