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Finding Anchor Points

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Lesson Plan

Building Resilience in Loss

Adults will learn to identify and cultivate their personal sources of strength and resilience to navigate the grieving process more effectively.

Grief can be an overwhelming journey. This lesson provides practical strategies and tools for adults to actively engage in their healing, build emotional stability, and find healthy ways to cope with loss.

Audience

Adults Class

Time

80 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided reflection, and a creative activity to identify and reinforce resilience.

Materials

Whiteboard or large paper, Markers or pens, Art supplies (colored pencils, crayons, magazines for collaging, glue sticks, scissors), Your Inner Compass Slide Deck, My Resilience Map Activity, and Checking In With My Core Warm-up

Prep

Prepare Materials & Review

20 minutes

Step 1

Warm-up: Checking In With My Core

10 minutes

  • Begin with the Checking In With My Core Warm-up.
  • Ask participants to reflect on their current emotional state and identify one core feeling or need.
  • Facilitate a brief, voluntary share-out, emphasizing that there's no right or wrong answer.

Step 2

Introduction: Navigating Grief and Finding Anchor Points

15 minutes

  • Use the first few slides of the Your Inner Compass Slide Deck to introduce the concept of grief as a journey and the importance of finding "anchor points."
  • Define anchor points as sources of strength, comfort, and stability.
  • Facilitate a brief discussion: "What does 'resilience' mean to you in the context of loss?"

Step 3

Exploring Types of Anchor Points

20 minutes

  • Continue with the Your Inner Compass Slide Deck to explore different categories of anchor points (e.g., people, activities, beliefs, values, memories).
  • Provide examples for each category.
  • Encourage participants to think about examples from their own lives without needing to share yet.

Step 4

Activity: My Resilience Map

25 minutes

  • Introduce the My Resilience Map Activity.
  • Explain that participants will create a visual representation of their anchor points using drawing, words, or collaging.
  • Provide a variety of art supplies and give clear instructions.
  • Circulate and offer support as needed.
  • Play calm, instrumental music during this time if appropriate.

Step 5

Share and Reflect

10 minutes

  • Invite volunteers to share their Resilience Maps and discuss one or two anchor points they identified.
  • Emphasize that sharing is optional and that simply creating the map is valuable.
  • Conclude by reinforcing the idea that building resilience is an ongoing process and that their anchor points are always there for them, even if they shift over time.
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Slide Deck

Welcome: Finding Anchor Points

Navigating the waters of grief.
What helps us stay steady?

Welcome participants. Briefly introduce the session topic: finding strength during grief. Emphasize that grief is a unique journey for everyone.

Your Inner Compass

Where do you find your strength?
What keeps you grounded?

Ask participants to individually reflect on the warm-up activity. Explain that this session will help them identify their own unique 'anchor points' or sources of strength.

Grief: A Journey

Grief is a natural response to loss.
It can feel like navigating unknown waters.

Anchor Points: What keeps you steady when the waves are high?

Introduce the metaphor of grief as a journey through choppy waters and anchor points as things that provide stability. Encourage them to think broadly about what can be an 'anchor.'

Types of Anchor Points

People: Friends, family, support groups.
Activities: Hobbies, nature, creative outlets.
Beliefs/Values: Spirituality, personal philosophies, life purpose.
Memories: Cherished moments, lessons learned.
Self-Care: Rest, nutrition, movement.

Discuss different categories of anchor points: people, activities, beliefs, values, memories. Provide a few examples for each, encouraging participants to think of their own.

Create Your Resilience Map

A visual guide to your strengths.
No artistic skill needed!
Reflect on your unique sources of stability.

Introduce the 'My Resilience Map' activity. Explain that it's a personal reflection tool to visualize their anchor points. Emphasize no artistic skill is required.

Reflect & Connect

What new anchor points did you discover?
How can you lean on them?

You are not alone in this journey.

Encourage reflection on the activity and offer a chance for voluntary sharing. Reiterate that identifying these anchors is a powerful step in their healing journey.

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Activity

My Resilience Map: Finding Your Anchor Points

Life's journey can have calm seas and stormy weather. Your anchor points are the things that keep you steady, grounded, and strong, especially when you're navigating grief or difficult emotions.

This activity is about creating a visual representation of your unique anchor points. There's no right or wrong way to do this, and you don't need to be an artist. This is a tool for your reflection and strength.

Instructions:

  1. Find Your Center: Take a moment to breathe deeply. Think about the core of who you are, your inner strength. You might draw a representation of yourself in the center of your paper, or write a word that represents your core being.

  2. Identify Your Anchor Points: Think about the different areas of your life where you find support, comfort, and strength. Consider the following categories, but don't feel limited by them:

    • People: Who are the individuals who uplift you? (Friends, family, mentors, support groups)
    • Activities: What do you do that brings you peace, joy, or a sense of purpose? (Hobbies, exercise, creative pursuits, being in nature)
    • Beliefs/Values: What are your core beliefs, spiritual practices, or values that guide you? (Faith, hope, kindness, perseverance)
    • Memories: What cherished memories bring you comfort or remind you of strength?
    • Places: Are there physical spaces that bring you peace or a sense of belonging?
    • Self-Care Practices: What are the ways you intentionally care for your mind, body, and spirit? (Rest, healthy food, mindfulness)

  3. Map It Out: On your paper, draw or write your anchor points around your central self. You can:

    • Use different colors to represent different types of anchors.
    • Draw symbols or simple pictures.
    • Write words, phrases, or names.
    • Cut out images from magazines and glue them on.
    • Connect your anchor points to your center with lines, showing how they support you.

  4. Reflect (Optional Sharing): Once your map is complete, take a moment to look at it. What do you notice? Does anything surprise you? How does it feel to see your sources of strength laid out? If you feel comfortable, you will have an opportunity to share one or two of your anchor points with the group.

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Warm Up

Checking In With My Core

Take a moment to close your eyes (if comfortable) or soften your gaze. Bring your attention inward.

  • How are you feeling in this moment? What is one core emotion or sensation you are experiencing?






  • What is one thing your inner self might need or be asking for right now?






There is no need to share your reflections, but simply notice what comes up for you.

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Finding Anchor Points • Lenny Learning