Englishwithpleasure® » Meeting Activities

Questions for our meeting

Isayana — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:09:31 +0000

In our last meeting, we have been working on: Selfishness/Selflessness/Self-interestedness

Some of the questions were:

Is altruism / selflessness possible?

Is everything we choose to do selfish by definition?

Could selfishness be a way of self-protection?

Is there a difference between selfishness and self-interestedness?

Is altruism/selflessness very deep down inside us motivated by a desire to make ourselves feel good?

Is the word “selfish” reserved only for people whose interests are more greedy, uncompassionate or narcissistic than other people’s interests?

Does a “selfless” person have no desires, values or goals to act out?

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Birthday Party

Isayana — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:12:52 +0000

We enjoyed a very good and enthusiastic party last Saturday! We had a guest from U.S.A. visiting us! It was a great experience! New members are welcome to join us.

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Taking Refuge

Isayana — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:56:05 +0000

Taking Refuge and Protection for all our Fears and Insecurities:

We ask for guidance, support, nourishment and comfort. To be awaken to the potencial of our inner resources.

We ask for wisdom, love,health, courage and compassion… and the possibility of embodying these qualities. So that we can live in the light, clarity and with positive thoughts, putting all our confidence and energy in the things that are real, are valuabe and are possible.

from the book: “Living Without Regret” by Arnauld Maitland

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Use of “If Conditionals” and specific vocabulary

Isayana — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:33:23 +0000

Complete the sentences:

I will feel more confident with myself if…

My creativity would flourish in abundance if…

I would have been less blocked if…

I will be able to do more things if…

I would see better results if…

I would have seen my own inner shadows earlier if…

I won’t be able to stop my negative thinking if…

I would feel stronger and more optimistic if…

My heart would have felt stronger and happier if…

I will be able to heal my wounds if…

I would meet myself and my self-expression if…

I would have changed many unhealthy habits if…

I will be able to recover my creativity if…

I wouldn’t sabotage myself if…

I would have taken more risks if…

I won’t betray myself if…

I would achieve more objectives if…

I would have opened up a little more to my creative- self if…

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Fantasy Trip – Imaginary Character

Isayana — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:17:26 +0000

Fantasy Trip

Imaginary Character

I am ………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………..

I live ……………………………………………………………………………..

I am used to ……………………………………………………….

……………. and ……………………………………………………

I enjoy ………………………………………………………………

I have already been able to…………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………….

but I haven’t been able to ………………………………….yet.

I would try …………………………………………………………

I believe ……………………………………………………………

I am usually too ………………………………………………….

I used to ……………………………………………………………

I hate ……………………………………………………………….

I should ……………………………………………………………

My most exciting adventure …………………………………..

Living ……………………………………………………………..

I wish ………………………………………………………………

My greatest difficulty ……………………………………………

I expect …………………………………………………………….

Currently my dream is …………………………………………..

If I accept …………………………………………………………..

My strength ……………………………………………………….

The biggest lie I’ve ever heard …………………………………

………………………………………………………………………..

My boundaries …………………………………………………….

I demand ……………………………………………………………

My possibilities ……………………………………………………

My blocks made me ………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………..

I am willing to …………………………………………………….

One of my weakest traits ………………………………………….

I was able to ………………………………………………………….

I don’t believe ………………………………………………………..

Risks make me feel …………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………..

I couldn’t ………………………………………………………………

My fears ……………………………………………………………….

My greatest interest/s ………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………..

I lack …………………………………………………………………..

I am sorry that ……………………………………………………….

It is important for me ……………………………………………….

I’m listening …………………………………………………………..

One action I could take right now ………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………..

If I could I ………………………………………………………………

I would like to …………………………………………………………

Possibly, my …………………………………………………………..

If I allowed myself …………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

I want to share …………………………………………………………

I was told ……………………………………………………………….

My negative thoughts ………………………………………………..

I remember that ………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………

My ideal ………………………………………………………………..

My positive thoughts ………………………………………………..

If I knew ………………………………………………………………..

Success ………………………………………………………………..

Trust …………………………………………………………………….

I am thinking now …………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………

Right now I’m feeling ………………………………………………..

………because …………………………and ………………………..

Posted in Meeting Activities

Example of one participant Necklaces & Ties.

Isayana — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:52:25 +0000

Example of one participant activity:

1st. participant writes:

One, little two, little three small ideas

four, little five, little six deep wishes

seven, little eight little nine sweet memories

ten little . . . stop . . . why not?

ten big opportunities!

One night, a lot of stars

the sun is rising, warming us up

we are ready now to continue

our way, but different ones.

Movement, and calm

hot and cold

ying and yang

everything and anything

somebody, anybody you and I.

2nd. Participant listens to his peers and chooses different words:

helps possibilities offer little things sense of life mistakes small worst life happiness feelings another mixed up wise alert slowly every day secret fun travel be connected change go ahead place.

3rd. participant includes these words in his piece of writing:

One little two, little three small mistakes

Four little five, little six worst mistakes

Seven, little eight little, nine another ones

Go ahead . . . everyday you can change,

Be alert!

One night, a lot of stars.

These are the possibilities we have

The sun is rising strong now, and warming us up

We can feel it, a sweet feeling

We are ready now to continue our life.

There are many places, out there to find fun

but there is a lot of room inside you,

be connected, travel through your secret freedom,

find the sense of life.

Movement and calm

Ying and yang

Offer and demand

Little things can surprise you

Share them with us

All is mixed up

Be wise!

Posted in Meeting Activities

Human Bonds

Isayana — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:40:29 +0000

Let’s work with these words and see if we can build real bonds:

Hear/Listen

Look/See

Talk/The word

Occupy physical space/Be present

Posted in Meeting Activities

Human Bonds

Isayana — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:02:53 +0000

We worked with the following words in an open discussion with material taken from the book “Conectados al Vacío” by Sergio Sinai.

Necessary Tools to Enrich our Bonds

Listening :

To train the listening is to be opened to understanding, it’s an essential part of the dialogue. As Martín Buber said: “Listening is a human meeting based on the acceptation and acknowledging of the other”.

Seeing:

One bond is only possible if we see and we are seen by the other in all its totality. And as we are always changing and in total transformation, we can not be guided by an ancient image, which could be old even though it belonged to yesterday. It is needed to see with attention, to be alert, respecting and exploring the singularity of the other, the real bond will exist when we see the other fully, completely.

The importance of the word:

A bond is made by what we give and what we ask for. In order to ask for something, I have to know what I need and how I need it. This can be done with a deeper connection, a clear dialogue, clear words with my needed aspects. Only if I can tell myself what I need, if I can find that clear word, will I be able to ask for it. And I also need the word to ask the other his/her real need, to know what to offer, what to give the other. The word is necessary to express our emotions and name them. Words which are not put into action can not help us to build a healthy bond.

The importance of being Present:

Being present means to create with the others shared living moments. It is to register the others similarities and differences, to build bridges. When we are present we see the other as he/she really is and vice-versa and so we become real and have the responsibility, the opportunity and the possibility to have a true relationship.

Why should we use these tools?

Because we have been born with them. We only need goodwill of feelings, commitment and spiritual courage. Even so, there are no guarantees, the other is somebody with his/her own existence, to build a bond with her/him is like the fact of living a risky operation, an extraordinary adventure, which is worth just by the mere fact of facing it.

To go towards the other is to go towards the human mystery and to open in front of him/her in a real bond is to open the door to our own mystery.

There will always be something unattainable in the other and something that the other will not reach in us. The building of a real bond is a spiritual challenge, which connects us with our affections. We can live a chosen life, real and meaningful or one full of fantasies and illusons. It’s up to us!

Posted in Meeting Activities

It´s never too late.

Isayana — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:03:06 +0000

There’s no need to fear suffering, whether our own or that of others.By making use of our life’s opportunities we become more fully human by facing whatever happens without guilt or blame. Dealing with impermanence and its accompanying pains, both great and small, and with the related topic of personal responsibility and questions of human possibility and limitation. In this way we can take hold of our lives under all imaginable circumstances, whether happy or desperate, sick or healthy, imprisoned or free, young or old. The possibilities we ignore, the opportunities we pass by, the choices we are afraid to embrance, the missteps we take – these need not be irreversible.

In facing our faults honestly and relinquishing self-pity and shame, we can rectify our mistakes. Time never stops giving us new chances. By accepting the certainty of death, realizing the truth that impermanence is an inextricable characteristic of existence, and daring to live accordingly, we begin to flouruish as human beings. Then when we look back on our lives

Posted in Meeting Activities

Proverbs & Expressions

Isayana — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:34:55 +0000

Group Meeting
Proverb:

“You lose on the swings, what you make on the roundabouts.”

Meaning: to have losses and profits which are about equal.

Expression: “To be under sb’s thumb”

Meaning: to be under his influence and control.

Expression: “More power to your elbow”

Meaning: phrase used to encourage sb.

Posted in Meeting Activities