Last Monday, I facilitated a group.
On Monday afternoons, I attend the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance support group, because I have bipolar II, which I’ve mentioned before. I’ve been going for about 3 years now. I’ve worked through the book more than once. I know the answers, haha, as if I could know the right answers to mental health when it’s different for everyone.
The regular facilitator was having a hard day and asked me if I would lead. None of this is surprising, since he is a peer and the group could be led by any peer. I said yes, and I was happy to do this favor for him.
It went surprisingly well. We worked our way through 2 pages in the book. That may not be much but it included some conversation and it was the end of a section. Didn’t make sense to start a new section with only 15 minutes left. The group appreciated the chance to chat during the session. It was a little more active than the usual facilitator likes, but we have different philosophies. He is trying to get through the book, whereas I use the book as a jumping-off point. Nothing wrong with either one, just different.
At the same time, I have been hearing about women who lead seminars to help other women. I think I could lead one about vision boards and creating goals. It would be maybe 3 hours, give or take. Part of it would be about setting goals, where do you want to be in, say, 5 years? Or indeed, ever? Part of it would be making the actual vision board. And part of it would be about sharing our dreams and visions. I think I could manage about 10 women, and they would have to bring their own scissors since I don’t own that many pairs. Glue and magazines I’ve got, scissors not so much.
So I am looking for goal setting exercises. They are surprisingly hard to find. There are a lot of sites devoted to professional development and goal setting in that regard but really almost nothing about personal goal setting. The principles must be the same however so I just need to tweak them. Of course I would need to tweak them in any case to make them my own. I’m about being inspired by other people, not stealing their work.
I believe I can do this. It seems very do-able. It also doesn’t overlap the government job so there should be no conflict of interest. The first one or two would be free while I get my feet under me, then I would have to start charging. I wonder if I could even do it monthly.
Words of encouragement and suggestions only, please. I have enough nay-sayers in my own head as it is. I could stand some support around this idea.