LiveDifferent Circles
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Session 1 of 6 · 60 min

Authenticity.

How do we really connect with others?

Today everyone gets a feel for what Circles is about, and each circle starts building trust by practising being real with each other.

First session: welcome everyone warmlyThe video covers Values & Agreements today

Before you start.

Step 15 min

Welcome + icebreaker

Try This vs. That (below). No Values & Agreements recap today; the episode introduces them.

Step 245 min

Episode + 3 circle rounds

The video pauses itself three times. Each circle goes around once per question.

Step 35 min

Closing round

Everyone names how they’ll take on this week’s challenge.

Step 45 min

Compassion Project

Introduce the project.

Episode 1Authenticity

Stops by itself at each question.

Circle round 1 of 3Warm-up

If you could delete any food from the face of the planet, what would it be and why?

Host tip

Just a fun one. Start with a funny or bad food story; stories invite stories. Ask for names if people don’t know each other yet. However long you share sets the pace for everyone.

Short on time? One-word answers for this one.

About 8 minutes. With 6 in a circle, that’s roughly 80 seconds each. Anyone can share, pass, or say “come back to me.”

Step 3 · Closing round

This week’s challenge.

Share something with a close friend or family member that they don’t know about you.

Go around once: Who will you share with? When and where?

Step 4 · Compassion Project, step 1 of 7

Introduce the project.

Share the options at the end of class and let students vote (or pitch their own). Confirm it in Session 2; you’ll carry it out together after Session 6.

Letters of encouragementAppreciation surpriseKindness blitzCreate your own

After class: pick one follow-up (optional).

Students already have these prompts in their take-home.

Big ideasStudents pick one big idea and write how it shows up in their own life.
Challenge share-backNext class, students share who they told and what. Go first yourself.
Written challenge200 to 300 words on the two reflection questions. Optional: swap with a partner.
Dig deeperRead the article on the benefits of conversation. How should it change the way we live?
Icebreaker: This vs. That

Point to one side of the room for “this” and the other for “that,” and everyone moves to their pick. Coke or Pepsi? Android or iPhone? Cat or Dog? Money or Happiness? Christmas or Halloween? McDonald’s or Wendy’s? No more TV or no more music?

Tight room? Sit for “this,” stand for “that.”

Bonus: Would you rather every shirt you ever wear be kind of itchy, or only be able to use 1-ply toilet paper?

Bonus: Would you rather have edible spaghetti hair that regrows every night, or profusely sweat maple syrup?

Online: Use the poll feature or the group chat, or have people turn their camera on and mime goggles for “this” and a moustache for “that”.

Time left over? Extra questions

Light: What is something you’re interested in, but have never tried?

Deeper: When might you most frequently slip into “performance mode”? How could you bring more of who you are into these moments?

Deeper: If you put aside the world’s expectations, what would you do more of?

Deeper: In what ways have you changed yourself to gain acceptance?

If someone shares something concerning

Circles is community, not therapy. Hosts listen and thank; they don’t give advice.

If anything shared concerns someone’s safety, the host tells you right after the session, and your usual reporting process takes it from there.

Always tell you if:

  • someone shares that they are struggling with suicidal thoughts.
  • someone shares that they are harming themselves or others.
  • someone shares that they are experiencing any type of abuse.

Hand out.

Host Card

Hosts scan it on their phone, or print one per circle. Before the session.

Take-home

Send the link or print it. After the session. Includes next week’s questions.

Open take-home
Values & Agreements tent cards

Print once, one per circle, and reuse them for all six sessions.

Print tent cards