Very well, affirming participant feedback and using it to make other points elsewhere in the material (Cynthia’s description of a video in which magic glasses allowed the viewer to see the “trouble bubbles” that described what troubles people were going through). Very good technique for communicating that a participant’s input was valued enough to use and touch on again...and using that to segue into the suffering of others. Listening to and building on the feedback of participants goes a long way toward creating safe space.

Did well with first thinking trap slide, emphasizing that it’s “you” or “us” who are actually caught in the trap.

Good question to add to the people hiding during the holocaust slide, “What would you have done,” really bringing people into the equation. And, did a good exposition of how each component of compassion (noticing suffering, empathic concern, and sense of agency) might have played out in someone making a decision about how/whether to act in such a life-threatening situation.

Good description of two-winged bird and weaving in equanimity and noting that the most compassionate decision can sometimes be doing nothing and letting others suffer the consequences of their actions.

Did a fine job describing the skit breakout for this section. Followed materials well.

NA

Good use of comparison with people who claim they want rescue dogs but also want to have a pure breed. The approach you use, of saying “All dogs provide comfort” and “All dogs love being part of a family,” and thereby allowing people to see the dogs in a different way. The same could be true of people when considering that all people have so much in common (common caninity as a gateway to common humanity ;0).

Good use of personal example in sharing how a lacking a sense of agency – or falling into the thinking trap of powerlessness (and getting focused on the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” when it comes to helping others – can prevent us from taking action (with a sister’s major illness and being unsure how to help until learning that even minor actions could make a big difference).

Good analogy of acknowledging differences and understanding how they affect the situation (Asians having a smaller personal space, likely based on far greater population density) allows us to be more compassionate. This story could be fleshed out into a good CE for the “understanding causes and conditions” component of the Forgiveness and Gratitude skill.

NA

Ended two-winged bird slide a bit abruptly; could have been smoother/offered more closure.

A description of a “missing component” skit as an example is often helpful to participants, since many don’t really get this activity without an example. May want to use the skit you and your team did when participating in CIT (that’s still the one I use).

More emphasis on the RZ as the “OK Zone” and that we can have “negative” emotions (anger, sadness) and still maintain ourselves and our values.