This is part 2 of the two-part “Mirror Magic” values-driven exercise.
Host a group team-building exercise to artistically craft a mirror that affirms each person’s deeply-held ethical values. Tools needed include:
- a framed mirror — 8″x11″ to 11″x11″ mirror is great. Needs to be large enough to write statements along the edges by hand with glass markers.
- glass paint markers
- stickers (optional) (consider Happy Planner stickers, or similarly affirming stickers that promote encouragement, self-care, self-reflection, and ethical values)
Introduce the goal of this workshop (4 minutes)
In “Value Values,” we identified the values you most deeply value and believe in. Now, we’re going to create a cultural shift together in how we see ourselves. This will help us each remember who we are, every day, no matter what wild complications the world throws at us that might sometimes make us forget our own values.
Our organization is focusing, moving forward, on mirroring the magic that’s already within each of you. To do that, each of us will make our own mirror today. Each mirror reflects the light within you, shining clarity and reflection about who you really are — and showing who we are, when we work together bringing the full power of our personal ethical values to the team.
Each of you should have in front of you a mirror, some glass paint markers, and some stickers. I’m going to give you prompts for what to write on each of the four sides of the mirror, and then the rest of the decorations are entirely up to you!
Facilitator: “Alright, using the answers you’ve already listed on the Value Values worksheet, please use one side of the mirror to write each of these:”
- Write at least one affirmation of your purpose.
- Write “I am,” followed by the top 2-5 qualities embodied by the people you think most highly of.
- Write the most powerful question you would want a mentor to ask you when you’re faced with an ethical challenge and feel lost.
- Write the most important reason you are a part of this team.
Allow everyone quiet time to focus on writing each of these prompts on their mirror. You may give them one prompt at a time, or give them all four prompts at once so they can move along at their own pace.
If there will be a contest for Most Inspiring Mirror, or anything of the like, inform participants of this beforehand so they can appropriately plan their design. (30 minutes)
Facilitator, you’re about to give a pep talk. This is not an open discussion for sharing responses – which is important because of how talking about one’s responses with others at this stage could affect neurochemical levels in the brain and diminish the impact of this exercise.
The focus here is on self-reflection, and practicing holding personal estimations of oneself quietly – a skill which some people highly motivated by external validation may struggle with.
“Alright everyone, look over the values you chose to make into your mirror.” (Pause)
“Now take a real slow breath and exhale. For the next two minutes, everyone is going to travel back in time, and visit yourself as you were when you were 11 years old. Have a conversation with that kid. Listen to them tell you what they think about this mirror, without arguing with them.
“Remember who you used to think you would become someday as a powerful, grown-up adult who could do anything. Are these values you’ve written down in alignment with the kind of adult that child would be proud of, and would respect?
“Are the choices you’ve made here something that 11 year old you would be proud of?
“If they’re not, can you quietly identify just one step you could take, starting today, to become the kind of person who would make that kid proud to say, ‘Yeah! That’s what I want to be when I grow up.’?
“We’re going to sit for a couple minutes so you can listen to your inner child, and hear what they have to say. You can look at your mirror, close your eyes, or whatever feels most comfortable for you. It’s okay to have feelings. Small feelings, big feelings. Your feelings are real and valid. Don’t assume you already know what your younger self will tell you. This is an opportunity to practice listening to your heart.”
[Allow two minutes of quiet.]
Conclude: “Each of you is here because you have a healthy disdain for the status quo.
“At the same time, disdain alone is never enough to move anyone forward into who we aspire to become. We must know and remember what our values are, not merely disdain what our values are not. We must reaffirm our commitment to valuing our own values, and to mirroring the magic we see in ourselves and in one another.
“That’s how we make sure we become the kind of grown-ups we needed when we were younger. That’s how we become the kind of grown-ups our children need. It’s how we become ourselves.
“Knowing this, we encourage you to place these mirrors in a location where you will see yourself in the reflection at your own workspace. Not off to the side, but where you will consistently have this lovely little reminder of who you are and what you’re about. This can help counteract some of the psychological effects of frequently seeing yourself as a talking head on a zoom screen.
“We want you to remember who you are, what’s important to you, and why you’re here, so that you lean fully into being your best self and embodying your deepest values each day, both here and outside of work.”
(If there’s going to be a Mirror Magic selfie contest on Teams next week so everyone can show off their mirror at their workstation, announce that here.)
“If anyone had strong or difficult, feelings surface during this workshop that you want to talk about, please don’t hesitate to come speak with me or with HR afterward for support. We’re proud of you for taking this deep dive into your values with this workshop, and we want to make sure you’ve got all the support you need to fully ground yourself again afterward.”
Dismiss the session.
Directing participants to connect with a mental health therapist may be called for, as this exercise can stir up cognitive dissonance and disrupt the stasis of a person who is already acting significantly out of alignment with their own personal ethical values.
All material subject to copyright 2024 by Brandyn Gallagher
The Front Porch 