Create Connections
INTRODUCTION
Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential (SAMSHA, July 2019). Recovery is not about getting rid of our behavioral health problems but seeing beyond them, recognizing and fostering our strengths, abilities, interests and dreams. This group has come together because each of us wants to be our “best self”. Sometimes this can be a hard, lonely journey.
As a group we will work together, learn from each other and give each other support. We will combine our faith, courage and ideas to help each other. We will talk a lot about becoming our best self and living a better life in this group. When we say our "best self" we mean getting help from our community, family, friends, and a power greater than ourselves to live a strong, balanced life. When we choose to become our best self, we care for our physical needs, social emotional health and spiritual life while finding ways to expand our knowledge. We are better able to give back and help others. Being our best self doesn't mean we will be able to get and do anything we set our minds to, but we can have a life worth living.
Each session we will combine our faith and trust in the group and a higher power with learning skills that help meet practical needs. All so we can become better. Life worth living groups work best when everyone is actively present; shares their ideas; completes the activities; loves and supports each other; works on their promises during the week, and shares what they learned in the next meeting.
CHECK IN
Gratitude: Taking time every day to be grateful can help our health, relationships, emotions and happiness. Write something you are grateful for this week. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Discuss: Share with the group something we did last week to work on a problem we have. Write your thoughts.
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CREATE CONNECTIONS
Think: How is my life different because people have helped me?
Discuss: Can you share a story of how you or someone you know life was changed for the better because others cared? What did you learn from that story? Write your thoughts.
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Read: Some of us feel we don't have anything to give back. Every one of us talents and gifts that can help our families, friends and community. Christian scriptures teach, "Love each other, just as I have loved you." (John) and "When you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me." (Matthew)
Plan to Help Activity
Step 1: Think of an individual, family or organization who needs your help. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 2: List the skills and ideas you could offer them. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Make a plan to help. For example, you could:
--Volunteer to clean up a park, church, or school.
--Visit an elderly person who may be lonely or someone with poor health.
--Help someone who needs extra support, like a single mother.
--Help someone who needs extra support, like a single mother.
--Help a child or teenager who needs support or mentoring.
--Other ideas ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Commit: This week I will
___Work on a plan to help and serve someone.
___ Share what I am learning with my community, family and friends.