Compassionate Integrity Training CIT-Faciltator-Guide-2.1-Final | Page 53

C OMPASSIONATE I NTEGRITY T RAINING
A S ECULAR E THICS A PPROACH TO C ULTIVATING P ERSONAL , S OCIAL AND E NVIRONMENTAL F LOURISHING
3.
Place two chairs (one for you and one for the volunteer) facing each other but slightly turned
toward the group. Ask the volunteer, “A resource is something that makes you feel calmer, better,
happier or safer, or that you associate with those things. It can be internal, external, or imagined.
Internal means it’s something about yourself. External means a person, place, thing, or memory.
Imagined means something that you make up. Can you think of something that could function as a
resource for you?”
4.
Give the volunteer time to think of a resource. Once they indicate they have thought of a resource,
ask, “Would you be willing to share your resource with me?” If they answer yes, then ask, “I’d like
for you to describe your resource to me in detail. Paint a picture for me.” You may prompt them
with specific sensation questions, “What does it look, smell, sound, taste, feel like?” This is to
intensify the resource for them. The more detailed the resource, the more effective it will be at
triggering pleasant or neutral sensations.
5.
Ask the volunteer, “As you think about this resource [repeat some of the details of the Resource
back to the volunteer], what sensations do you notice in your body right now?” If the volunteer
describes sensations they experienced at a different time, remind them that you are asking what
they are feeling right now, in this moment, as they think of their resource.
6.
Once the volunteer has located a sensation in the body, ask, “Is that sensation neutral, pleasant or
unpleasant?”
a.
If the volunteer says the sensations are neutral or pleasant, ask, “Would you like to sit with
that sensation for a moment?” If they agree, sit in silence with them for 10-20 seconds.
This gives space and time for the experience of the sensation to deepen.
b. If the volunteer says the sensation is unpleasant, you want to help them move to a place in
their body that feels better. Ask “Is there a place in the body that feels better?” If this is
unsuccessful, you can return to the resource and try again.
7.
A resource might “split.” This means an originally happy or pleasant resource might turn to a
memory or thought of sadness or unpleasantness (for example, if someone thinks of a loved one,
but that loved one is now deceased.) If this occurs, assure the volunteer this is quite normal. Ask the
volunteer to focus on the part of the resource that gives them a pleasant feeling or ask them to
choose a different resource.
8.
Once you are finished, say, “Thank you for sharing your resource with me,” and invite them to
return to their seat.
C ENTER FOR C OMPASSION , I NTEGRITY AND S ECULAR E THICS | L IFE U NIVERSITY | M ARIETTA , G EORGIA
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