Introduce yourself at starting time, keeping it brief. Go around the room with each person sharing their present day situation, their background and their future plans in less than a minute. Then you introduce the topic of the day: For example, what are the characteristics of a relationship in which you feel really connected to another person? Or one thing I'd like to learn or strengthen in myself so I can experience more connection, and better relationships. Allow the flow of conversation to steer the topics to reflect the mood of the group.
Comments and questions should be only positive and illuminating – reflecting on the person’s story. Focus on the teller.
Sharing understanding and opening ourselves to others will put an end to the isolation and open the door for friendship to restore a sense of fulfillment. Facilitating these meetings may require diligence in keeping folks on task with occasional interruptions of folks who take too much time or say objectionable things. Effective facilitators do not tolerate behaviors that run counter to the simple goals of the group. Facilitators create closer, more durable friendships by illuminating the strengths we all share.
We cultivate the ability of group members to see and hear the shared needs of ourselves and others, to understand another’s plight as if it were our own, and to engage empathy and civility to dispel barriers to meaningful bonds with others.
