Gratitude Circles bring people together around self-care and shared connection.
Inspired by nature, at the heart of all Gratitude Blooming practices is the artist-illustrated 39-card deck and guidebook.
The card deck serves as a “third object” in the circle. It creates a safe space to notice your feelings from a different perspective. This practice is the foundation of cultivating vulnerability, fostering trust and creating a culture of belonging in relationships, work and life.
In this emergent and unexpected space, we move beyond typical structures of teacher-student and expert-beginner to explore new depths of noticing and feeling gratitude.
By practicing in community, we each serve as reminders that we’re not alone in our feelings. In fact, our emotions connect us to each other.
There are 4 guiding principles for a Gratitude Circle:
You are your own best inner-teacher;
There is, therefore, no fixing, advising or saving of others in the circle;
Discomfort may show up as a guide;
Silence is a participant.
WHY JOIN A CIRCLE?
I see value in reminding myself that life is a gift and there are always good things to be grateful for.
I want to grow my self-awareness, compassion, and authenticity.
I want to build a team culture of wellness and thriving.
I want to encourage healthier relationships in my life.
I want to be able to adapt to change and be more comfortable with uncertainty.
I want to awaken my senses and relationships through a healthy connection to Nature.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Welcome from co-hosts.
One word check-in. Use the chat as a shared journal. What gift are you bringing with you in this moment (e.g. curiosity, presence, etc.)? And where are you joining from?
Guided meditation. Focus on your breath and your body to get present in the moment. Focus on your intention for being here and taking regular, even breaths.
Use the power of synchronicity to pick a Gratitude Blooming card at random. Everyone is invited to respond with what personally resonated from the prompts. Each person will have 3-5 minutes each round to share depending on the number of people.
Participate your way. Verbally or in the chat box which serves as our group journal. (Everything in a circle is by invitation. Remember, you are your best guide for the experience.)
Three closing breaths.
For the first breath, in the last hour, what positive moments resonated with you and savor?
For the second breath, what challenging emotions or feelings may have arose that you can acknowledge and compost to create soil for new growth?
For the last breath, what do you want to with you from this circle?
