Complete Meeting Guide
Your Childhood Self
Download this GuideOverview
Connection activities focus on sharing personal stories and benefiting from your Circle’s ideas, experiences, and support. This connection activity uses childhood photos to help members connect with their younger and adult selves and deepen trust within the Circle.
Meeting Goals
- Enable a connection between your younger and current self
- Identify a goal that your childhood self would want for you today
- Develop a stronger sense of trust and connection with your Circle
Pre-Meeting Prep
- Bring a hard copy of a photo of yourself as a young child (this does not need to be an original print, just something that can be shared with other members)
- Send everyone the link to this meeting guide; if meetings are offline, remind them to bring the PDF version of it.
- Remind everyone to bring her One Action update (if you’re doing this)
Meeting Agenda
110 min (based on 10-member group size)
-
1
Check-In
20 min
Warm up, catch up, and get going
-
2
Activity 1: Connecting with Your Younger Self
55 min
Deepen your understanding of yourself and your Circle members by sharing childhood photos
-
3
Activity 2: Group Debrief (Optional)
15 min
Discuss how sharing these photos makes you feel
-
4
One Action
15 min
The little push you need to go for it
-
5
Wrap-Up
10 min
What’s next and a few final words
-
6
Optional
One Action update
Check-In
20 min
Warm up, catch up, and get going!
Step 1: Icebreaker
Group activity
1 min per member
An icebreaker is a powerful tool to help us become present with ourselves and one another. One by one, fill in the sentence below and share it with your Circle. Listen carefully as each member takes a turn and say thank you when she’s finished. Avoid the urge to slip into conversation.
- One word people used to describe me as a child was . . .
Step 2: Member Updates
Group activity
2 min per member
An icebreaker is a powerful tool to help us become present with ourselves and one another. One by one, fill in the sentence below and share it with your Circle. Listen carefully as each member takes a turn and say thank you when she’s finished. Avoid the urge to slip into conversation.
If you have a One Action Update, share that with your Circle at the same time. (A One Action is one concrete action you committed to take at your last meeting. The goal is to step outside your comfort zone or practice a new skill.)
For example, a member update might go like this: “Since our last meeting, I asked my boss for a big assignment and got it. I’m thrilled but a little nervous [personal update]. For my One Action, I asked that coworker I’ve been struggling with out for lunch. She immediately said yes, and I was surprised by how easily we got along. I can see it helping in the office, and we’re going out for lunch again next week—her invite! [One Action update].”
Activity 1: Connecting with Your Younger Self
55 min
Step 1: Set the stage
Group activity
2 min
This activity offers an opportunity to reflect on your past and share with one another. Members’ experiences will be different—some of you will feel fortunate you are no longer that child; others will long to go back to that earlier time and place. Some will struggle to share part of their past; others will feel comfortable looking back. By being open and vulnerable, each of you will create space for others to do the same.
Before you jump into the activity, take a moment to review your commitment to confidentiality and open, honest, non-judgmental communication. Have someone read the following Circle fundamentals aloud and then have each member give a thumbs-up to indicate she agrees.
- Confidentiality—Trust is critical. What happens in our Circle should stay in our Circle.
- Communication—We commit to share openly and honestly and to listen with empathy.
- Commitment—Everyone should be invested in our Circle’s success and be fully present during this meeting.
Step 2: Reflect on your photo
Individual activity
5 min
Write. Why did you bring this particular photo?
Write. When was it taken and what’s happening in it?
Write. What would you say to the child in your photo?
Write. What would the child say to you?
Step 3: Share your photo
Group activity
5 min per member
One by one, take turns sharing and discussing your childhood photos, using the following process for each presenter. Your moderator will set the tone by going first.
Show
Hold up your photo for the group to see and then pass it around the Circle so everyone can look at it up close.
Share
As your photo is being passed around, share your responses to the prompts in step 2:
- Why did you choose this particular photo?
- When was it taken and what’s happening in it?
- What would you say to the child in your photo?
- What would the child say to you?
Discuss
After sharing your photo, have other members ask a few questions to get to know you better. It’s important to have at least one comment or question for each Circle member to ensure no one feels like they are left hanging after sharing their personal story.
This cycle repeats until you’ve all had a turn to share your photo.
Activity 2: Group Debrief (Optional)
15 min
Time permitting, share any final reflections you have. What did the photographs teach you about yourself and your Circle members?
One Action
20 min
We recommend you close every meeting by committing to a “One Action”—one concrete thing you’re going to do before your next Circle meeting to step outside your comfort zone or practice a new skill.
Step 1: Identify the action you’re going to take
Individual activity
5 min
Write. Identify a goal that your younger self would want you to accomplish.
Write. Now, identify one thing you can do in the next month to get closer to that goal.
Step 2: Share your One Action with your Circle
Group activity
2 min or less per member
One by one, go around your Circle and complete the following statements:
- My younger self would want me to . . .
- So, before the next meeting I will . . .
Wrap-Up
10 min
What’s next, and a few final words.
Step 1: Finalize logistics of your next meeting
Group activity
10 min
Before you break, make sure you have the basics covered for your next meeting: day and time, location, food and drink. Decide what you’re going to do when you get together or who’s going to send out ideas. You may also want to talk through what worked—and what didn’t—in today’s meeting and brainstorm improvements going forward.
Step 2: Close on an energetic and inspirational note
Group activity
1 min
Spend a moment thinking of an attribute that you are glad you have maintained since childhood. One by one, go around the room and share with the group.
Optional: One Action Update
Use the following prompts to give your One Action update during your next meeting.
- The area my younger self would want me to work on was _____________
- To get closer to this goal, I decided to _____________
- My next steps were _____________
- The outcome was _____________