Alphabet Coloring Pages: Printable Coloring Pages, Free Coloring Book for Adults
Graceful Transformation: A Healing Coloring Journey · Graceful Transformation: A Healing Coloring...
Transcript of Graceful Transformation: A Healing Coloring Journey · Graceful Transformation: A Healing Coloring...
Facilitator’s
GroupStudyGuide
Graceful Transformation: A Healing Coloring Journey
ByBonnieKelso
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
2
GroupStudyGuideforGracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourneyCopyright©2017byBonnieKelso,www.CreatingYourExperience.comAllRightsReserved.Nopartofthisgroupstudyguidemaybereproducedorutilizedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem—exceptforbriefquotationsforthepurposeofreview,withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Disclaimer:Allcontentwithinthisstudyguideisthepersonalopinionoftheauthor.Thisinformationisnotintendedtobeprofessionaladviceandisnotasubstituteforprofessionalmedical,spiritual,emotionalorpsychiatricadvice,diagnosisortreatment.Ifyoususpectyouneedhelp,alwaysseekadvicefromaprofessionalprovider.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
3
Contents:
Introduction 4
Day1:Gratitude 5
Day2:Hope 7
Day3:Vulnerability 9
Day4:Self-Beliefs 11
Day5:Trust 13
Day6:Detachment 14
Day7:Forgiveness 16
Day8:Accountability 18
Day9:Faith 19
Day10:Transformation 20
Day11:Love 21
Conclusion 23
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
4
IntroductionGracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourneywascreatedasaresultofaCreativityClassIfacilitatedattheLasVegasRescueMissionforthemenandwomenintheAddictionRecoveryProgram.ThisbookcanbeusedbyclientsinanyAddictionRecoveryProgramandatanypointintheprogramasatoolforself-exploration.Asacoloringbook,itoffersanon-threateningwaytoapproachsomeofthecomplexthemesofself-discoverythatclientswillbeaskedtofaceastheybegintotransformtheirlivesfromoneruledbyaddictiontoonethatfullyembracestheirfaith. Icreatedthisfacilitator’sguidetoshowhowthiscoloringbook(whichisavailableforpurchaseonAmazon.com)canbeusedinagroupstudyformat.Irecommendthatthegroupmeeteachweekforaboutanhour.Inbetweeneachmeeting,theclientscancontinuetoworkonthecoloringpagesaswellasjournalanddoodleaboutthevariousthemesintheirbooks.Ineachmeeting,onethemewillbeexploredonadeeperlevel,sothatclientsmaybetterexploreandsharewhattheyaregoingthroughonanemotionallevel.Irecommendthatonlyonetopicbeexploredineachsessionforoptimalfocusandretention. Myhopeisthatthroughcreativeexpression,eachpersonwhousesthisbookwillbegintounravelthecomplexemotionsthattheiraddictionsserveasanescapefrom.Byusingtheireye-handcoordinationthroughcoloring,drawingandwriting,theywillexperienceneurologicalstimulationthatpromoteshealing,relaxation,andclarityofthought.TheprocessofcoloringandcreatingcanbringasenseofmindfulawarenesstothepresentmomentwhereonecanfeelacloseconnectiontoGod.Thisisthenaturaltherapeuticpurposebehindthesecreativeexercises.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
5
Day1:GratitudeFeelingsofgratitudearebestexperiencedwhenyouarecalmandrelaxed.Tobeginthisfirstdayofthegroupstudy,takesometimetoquietlybepresentwithyourgroup.Guidethemtoastateofrelaxationbyhelpingthemtofocusontheirbreath.Askthemtoclosetheireyesandenterintoastateofprayerwiththem.Allowthemtofeelpresentwithallthethingsintheirlifethattheyarefeelinggratitudeforrightnow.Possiblephrasestomentionare:Safetyinthisplace
Camaraderiewithfellowparticipants
Quiettimetoreflectandheal
Foodandshelter
Anopportunitytotransformmylife
God’sdivinewisdomandguidance
Allowthegrouptosettleintothesefeelingsofgratitudeforaslongastheyrequire.Whenyouarereadytomoveforwardwiththesession,gentlyguidethembacktobreathingdeeply,andopeningtheireyes.Gratitudeisapowerfulstartingplaceforanyhealingexperience.Itcanbringoutunexpectedemotions.Bepatientandcompassionatewithyourgroup.Thereisnoneedtorush.Encourageparticipantstoshareanyfeelingsthatarise.Readthefollowingquotefromthecoloringbookoutloudtoyourgroup:“Happinesscannotbetravelledto,owned,earned,wornorconsumed.
Happinessisthespiritualexperienceoflivingeveryminutewithlove,grace,and
gratitude.”—DenisWaitley
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
6
Askyourgrouptorespondtothismessage.Herearesomequestionstoaskyourgroup:• Whatdoesitmeantobehappy?
• Whatistherelationshipbetweengratitudeandhappiness?
• Howcanyouletmorehappinessintoyourlifethroughthoughtsofgratitude?
• Whatdoesitfeelliketobepresent?
Haveyourgroupimagineonethingthattheyaremostgratefulforrightnow.Astheyimaginethisthing,arethereanysymbolsorwordsthatcometomind?Explainthattheywillexpressthisbydrawingand/orwritinginthecircleprovidedintheircoloringbook.Distributecrayons,markers,orpencilstoyourgroup.Encouragethemtodrawwithoutjudgingwhattheydraw.Remindthemthatitistheprocessandnottheoutcomethatismostimportantrightnow.Whenyoutrynewthings,yougrowandexpand.Whenyoudon’ttry,nothing
changes.
Encourageyourgrouptocolorfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofgratitudeandencouragethemtokeepcoloringandjournalinguntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
7
Day2:HopeTakesometimetoaskthegrouphowtheirfirstweekofcoloringwent.Aretheyfeelingencouragedbytheirdecisiontotransformtheirlife?Howdiditfeelwhentheycoloredandconsideredthingstobegratefulfor?Therearemanywayspeoplewillrespondtothisactivity.Somewillfeeluncomfortable,otherswillfeelsillyorchildish,andothersmightbecomerelaxedwhiledrawingandcoloring.Encouragethegrouptosharetheirfeelingsaboutexpressingthemselvescreatively.Encouragethemtoremainopentotheexperience,evenifitfeelsuncomfortable.Whenyoufaceinnerfeelingsofresistance,thereisalottodiscoveraboutwhere
thatresistanceiscomingfrom.Resistanceisasignificantpartofany
transformation.
Oftenwhenyoubegintoembracefeelingsofgratitude,feelingsofhopefollow
quicklyafter.Promptthegroupwiththequestion:Whatdoeshopemeantoyou?Godgivesusthegiftofhopesothatnomatterwhatchallengeswearefacing,
wecanenvisionapotentialforpositivechange.
Askyourgrouptoconsiderwhatisinspiringpositivechangeintheirliferightnow?Understandwherethesefeelingsofhopearecomingfrom.Whatisthesource?Aretheyreceivingsupportfromothers?Dotheyhaveapositiverolemodelintheirlife?Isthereafamilymembertheycareaboutwhoisrelyingonthemtochange?
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
8
Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhopeandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
9
Day3:VulnerabilityBeginbyaskingyourgrouphowtheirweekwentexploringtheideaofhope.Askthemdirectlyiftheyarefeelinghopefulandwhyorwhynot?Encouragethosewhodonotliketosharetocomment,eveniftheycanonlycomeupwithoneword.Sharingrequiresyoutobevulnerable.Remindthemthattheyareinasafeandsupportedplacewithinthegroup.Manypeoplefeelthreatenedwhenexpressingthemselves.Theyarefearfulofbeingjudgedorridiculed.Trytomakethegroupfeelcomfortablewithtakingachance.Practicingvulnerabilitymeansallowingfortheriskofexposureinorderto
growandheal.
Encourageyourgrouptosharethoseuncomfortablefeelingsassociatedwithvulnerability.Whataretheyafraidwillhappeniftheyopentheirhearttoothers?Askthegrouptoconsidertheimageinthecoloringbook.Youcanguidethemthroughthefollowingquestionstohelpthemprocesstheimageasametaphorforvulnerability.•Whatdoesitmeantohaveawallaroundyourheart?
•Howdoesitfeeltocloseoffyourhearttoothers?
•Whatdoesitfeellikewhenthewallstartstobreakdown?
•Whatcanbecomepossiblewhenyoubreakthroughthiswallofprotection
aroundyourheart?
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
10
Youcanguideyourgroupthroughahealingvisualizationatthispoint.Itmayhelptoplaysomecalminginstrumental-onlymeditationmusic.Getcomfortable.Closeyoureyesandbreathedeeply.Imagineyourheartspace.
Noticehowitfeelsinthismoment.Nowimaginethisspacebeginningtofillup
withGod’shealinglove.AsthisenergyfromGodbeginstogrow,sodoesthe
spaceinsideyourheart.Asitgrowsandheals,itcannolongerbecontained
withinthewallsthattrytolimitit.Itmustbreakthroughthewalls.Thisenergy
beginsfromwithinandforcesitswaythroughthebarriers.Asthewallsbeginto
crumble,itcanfeelfrightening,butatthesametimeyoubegintofeelliberated.
Beyondthesewalls,thereisthehopeoftransformation.
Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingandencouragethemtokeepcoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetoexploreanywallsaroundtheirheartsuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
11
Day4:Self-BeliefsCheckinwithyourgrouptoseehowthepastweekwentexploringtheirheartwallsandfeelingsofvulnerability.Astheysharetrytofindaconnectionbetweenthefearsanddiscomfortstheyareexperiencingwithpotentiallimitingself-beliefs.Forexample,saysomeoneisfeelingafearofrejectionfrombeingmorevulnerable.Thelimitedself-beliefhe/shemighthaveabouthimself/herselfmayberelated.Itcouldbeabeliefthattheyareunworthyofunderstandingandcompassion.Perhapstheyfeeltheyhavedonesomethingthatisunforgiveable.Thesearealllimitingself-beliefs,becauseintheeyesofGodweareallworthyofcompassionandforgiveness.Aseachpersonshares,helphim/hertoidentifythelimitingself-beliefsbehindthediscomfort.Commonlimitingself-beliefsmaybe:Iamunworthy.
Iamunlovable.
Iamunabletochange.
Iamhopeless.
Idon’tknowwhat’swrongwithme.
Idon’tknowwhyIdowhatIdo.
Ican’thelpmyself.
Iampowerless.
Askeachpersontochooseonelimitingself-belieftoexploreonthecoloringpage.Whateverthebeliefis,findtheoppositeofthatbelief.IfIchangedeachoftheprecedingbeliefstheywouldreadasfollows:
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
12
Iamworthy.
Iamlovable.
Iamabletochange.
Iamhopeful.
Icanfocusonwhatisrightwithme.
Icandiscoverhealingbybetterunderstandingmyself.
Iamhelpingmyself.
Iampowerful.
Thoughtsarepowerful.Ifyoubegintotellyourselftheoppositeofwhatyou
usuallytellyourself,youwillbecomeempoweredbythesethoughts.Justas
negativethoughtswillsustainnegativeactionsandoutcomes,positivethoughts
cancreatenewpositiveactionsandoutcomes.Explorethepowerofpositive
thinkingbywritingthisaffirmationonthecoloringsheetswithintheblank
spaces.Worktowardsbuildingtheconnectionbetweenwhattheheartfeelsand
whatthemindthinks,sothatlimitingself-beliefsbetterreflectthetruthofwho
youreallyareandwhatyouarecapableofintheeyesofGod.
Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetoexploretheirnewaffirmingself-beliefsuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
13
Day5:TrustBuildingtrustisanimportantpartofanytransformation.Beforeyoucantrust
others,youwillhavetolearntotrustyourselfagain.Thefollowingexercise
involvesusingyourhandstoexploretheideaoftrust.
Whenyouwerelittleyouusedyourhandstoexploreyourworld.Thetactile
sensationsoftouchhelpedyoutolearnwhatcouldbetrustedandwhatcould
notbetrusted.
OntheblankpagefollowingtheTrustcoloringpagewhereitsays“DoodleYourFeelings”havethemtraceeachoftheirhands.Encouragethemtodoitwiththeireyesclosed,sothattheywillrelymoreontheirsenseoftouchthantheirsenseofsight.Instructthemtotraceslowlyandreallyfeelthesensationoftracingeachfinger.Havethemnoticewhatitfeelslikeandanythoughtsthatarisewhiletheyaredoingit.It’sokayifthehandtracingsoverlaponeanother.Afterwardshavethemsharewhatitfeltlike.Learningtotrustyourselfrequirescarefulobservationofyourthoughtsand
feelings.Actingfromaplaceofdiscernmenthelpsyoutobuildbetterjudgment
inregardtoyourchoices.Understandinghowyourchoiceswillaffectyourself
andothersgivesyouabetterperspectivefromwhichtomakedecisionsinthe
future.Whenyoucanmakebetterchoices,youbuildtrustinyourself.
Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetoexplorethethemeoftrustuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
14
Day6:DetachmentTrustingyourselftomaketherightchoicewheninarelaxedmindfulstateis
onething.Learningtotrustyourchoiceswhenfacedwithaperceivedthreat
requiresthelearnedskillofdetachment.Manyofourpoorchoicesarefueledby
strongemotions.Inordertothinkmoreclearlybeforeweact,itisimportantto
cultivatetheskillofdetachingfromthesestrongemotions.Justasimplepause
canmakeallthedifferencefromescalatinganegativesituationtodefusingit.Guideyourgroupthroughthefollowingvisualizationtopracticeusingdetachmentwiththeaddedassociationofwarmandcoolcolors:Getcomfortable.Takeafewlongdeepbreaths.Closeyoureyes.Imaginea
recentsituationwhenyoumayhaveletyouremotionsescalateasituation.
Perhapsitwasanargumentorconflictofsomesort.Itdoesn’tevenmatterwho
startedit.Whatmattersishowyoureactedtothesituation.Thinkofacolor
thatbestdescribesthefeelingsyouareimaginingasyoureflectonthisheated
encounter.Seethatcolornowasifthewholesceneistintedwiththiscolor.Take
alongdeepbreath.Considernowhowandwhenyoucouldhaveneutralizedthis
incident.Perhapsitwasthemomentthatyoufeltyourownheartrateincrease
andadrenalinebegintopumpthroughyoursystem.Thefightorflightreaction
isaninternalprocessthatmaynotevenbephysicallyvisibletootherswhenit
firstbegins.Whatwouldhavehappenedifyouhadconsciouslydetachedfrom
thatrisingfeeling?Whatifyouhadwalkedawayorclosedyoureyesandtooka
verydeepbreath?Howmightthatpausehavechangedtheoutcomeofthe
situation?Nowasyouareimaginingthesensationofdetaching,imaginea
differentcolor.Thiscolorshouldfeelcalming.Imaginethiscolorasitfillsyou
withacalmingsensationasyouletgoofangerandfear.Youalwayshavea
choicewhenitcomestoconflict.Youcanengagethroughyourreactive
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
15
emotions,oryoucandetachandfindapeacefulalternative.Takeafew
momentstoenjoythispeacefulfeelingofdetachment.Whenyouareready,you
mayopenyoureyes.
Haveyourgroupexplorethisimaginedscenariofurtherbywritinganddrawingintheblankspacesprovidedonthecoloringpage.Colorscanbeusedtoemphasizetheemotions.Orangesandredsmightrepresentahottemper,whilegreensandbluescanrepresentthecoolingeffectofdetachment.Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetopracticedetachmentuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
16
Day7:ForgivenessTakesometimewithyourgrouptoreflectonthelastweek’stheme.Didanyonehavetheopportunitytopracticedetachment?Didtheyexperienceanyconflictingfeelings?Weretheyabletofindawaytodetachthroughbreathingdeeply?Anotherwayofpracticingthesensationoflettinggoisthroughforgiveness.Askthegroupwhatforgivenessmeanstothem.Discussreasonsforpracticingforgiveness.Howcanforgivingothersassistyourownhealing?
Areyouinneedofself-forgiveness?Leadyourgroupthroughthefollowingvisualizationofforgiveness:Getcomfortable.Takeadeepbreath.Closeyoureyes.Imagineyourselfasa
heavyobjectlikearock.Itisweighingyoudownandkeepingyoufromrisingto
yourownpotential.Thisisthesensationofwithholdingforgiveness.Forgiveness
islettinggoofthatpainfulburden.Itdoesn’tmeanthatyouhaveforgottenthe
painofwhathappened,itmeansthatyouaredetachingfromitinahealthy
wayinordertomoveonwithyourpersonaljourney.Asyoucontinuetobreathe,
feelintothesensationoflettinggoasyoulightenyourburdenofwithholding
forgiveness.Imaginethisheavyrockbegintofillwithair.Theheavinessbegins
todissolvefromtheinsideoutasmoreairisbroughtintothespaceoftherock.
Astherocktransformsitbecomeelasticandbeginstoexpandwitheachofyour
ownhealingbreaths.Witheachnewinhalationitbecomeslesslikearockand
morelikeaballoon.Itbecomessolightthatitbeginstoliftfromtheground.It
isrisingnow,lighterthantheairaroundit,asifitisfilledwithhelium.Asit
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
17
risesabovethecloudsyoucanlookdownandseewhereyoucamefrom.Youcan
seeeverything,allaroundyouineverydirectionandyourperspectiveisnowso
muchlargerthanitwas.Youareabeingoflightandloveasyouforgive
yourselfandothers.
Haveyourgroupsharewhattheexperienceofforgivenesscanfeellike.Havethemidentifyawordorsymbolthattheycandrawontheircoloringpage.Perhapsthereisaspecificpersonthattheyneedtoforgiveinordertomoveforwardwiththeirownhealingprocess.Theycanwritetheirfeelingsaboutthatpersoninthespaceprovided.Encouragethegrouptocolor,doodleandjournalfortheremainderofthegroupsession.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofforgivenessandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetopracticeforgivenessuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
18
Day8:AccountabilityReviewthepastweekofpracticingforgivenesswithyourgroup.Whenyoupracticeself-forgivenessyouautomaticallybegintostrengthenyour
personalaccountabilitybyrecognizingyourownmistakes.Accountabilityisnot
apunishment,butratheracourseofactionyouchoosetostrengthenyourwill.
Haveyourgroupconsiderwhataccountabilitymeanstothemandhowtheycanseeitasatoolforsupportingtheirrecoveryprocess.Askthemtoconsiderdifferentformsofaccountability.Itcanshowupasapersonalhealthyhabit,asupportgroup,amentor,aphysicalactivity,oradailyjournal.Whathelpsthemtostayontherightcourse?Especiallywhentimesgettough,itwillbenecessarytohavemorethanonemeasureofaccountabilityinplace.Havethemlistalltheaccountabilitysystemstheycanthinkof.Writethemoutonawhiteboardorblanksheetofpaperwhilepeoplearecallingthemout.Haveeachpersonconsiderwhichideasaremostsupportivetothem.Isthereonelistedthattheymightbewillingtoexplorefurther?Havethemwriteallthatresonatewiththeminthecirclesprovidedonthecoloringpage.Encouragethemtocolorandwriteadditionalmethodsofaccountabilitythattheythinkofastheyarecoloringinthebookonthefollowingblankpages.Iftheythinkofanewonetheyshouldcallitout,becauseitjustmightalsoresonatewithanotherpersoninthegroup.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingsupportandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetodiscovernewwaysofstayingaccountableuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
19
Day9:FaithBeginbyreviewingthepastweekofcoloringandjournalingaboutaccountability.Havethegroupmembersshareanyadditionalinsightstheymayhavegainedovertheweek.Oneofthemostpowerfulaccountabilitymeasuresisyourownfaith.Faithin
God,faithinyourselfandfaithinyourpurposeinlifecanbecometheguiding
lightofyourtransformationprocess.Haveeachpersoninthegroupreflectonthecurrentstandingoftheirownfaith.Herearesomequestionstohelpguidethediscussion:•Whatexperienceshavetestedyourfaithinthepast?
•Whatexperienceshaveincreasedyourfaithovertheyears?
•Haveyoueverexperiencedsomethinglikeamiraclebefore?
•Areyouopentotheideathatsomeeventsinlifeareunexplainable?
•Whatdoesitmeantolivealifeoffaith?
Havethemeachexplorethesethoughtsfurtherinthespacesprovidedonthecoloringpage.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofstrengthandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetoconsidertheirrelationshipwithGodandfaithuntilthenextgroupmeeting.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
20
Day10:TransformationAllowthegroupsometimetoreflectonthepastweekandtoshareanyfeelingsaboutfaiththathavecomeupforthem.Remindthemthattheyareonatransformativejourneyandthatrevelationssometimescomeinbigjumps,butatothertimesthechangesmayseemsmallandinsignificant.Yet,eachtransformativestepisjustasvaluableasthenext.Thinkofitasachainreaction,withoutonethenextmightnotfollow.Abutterflydoesnotbecomeabutterflyovernight.Aseriesofseeminglyinsignificantchangesoccuroveralongperiodoftime.Consideronesmallseeminglyinsignificantshiftthathasoccurredrecently
withinyou.Feelimmenseappreciationforthistinyshift.Themoreyoucan
acknowledgeandrecognizeeverysmallstepalongtheway,themoreyouwill
becomestrengthenedandempoweredbyyourprogress.
Havethemconsiderthisonerecentshiftandarticulateitonthecoloringpageintheblankspaceofthebutterfly.Givethemtherestofthesessiontosimplyenjoyandrelishthisaccomplishmentastheycolor.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofrecognitionandencouragement.Overthenextweek,askthemtonoticeanytransformationsthattheybecomeawareof,nomatterhowsmall.Askthemtowritethemdownintheirbook.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
21
Day11:LoveTakeafewminutestoallowthegrouptosharetheirexperiencesovertheweek.Havethemacknowledgeanysubtleorlargeshiftsthattheysensedintheirowntransformationprocess.Whenyoucanrecognizeyouraccomplishments,itboostsyourself-esteem.Self-esteemisjustanotherwordforself-love.Thegreatestrewardforlivingaspirituallifeislove.It’sokaytoloveyourself.
Sometimesthisloveisplayeddownbecausepeoplethinkitwillmakeyouselfish
oregocentric.Thetruthisthatwithoutself-loveyoucannottrulyexperienceall
theotherformsoflovetherearetoexperienceinthislife.Youhavetolove
yourselfthewayGodlovesyou,unconditionallyandwithoutlimits.Becauseyou
arelovedsocompletely,doesnotmeanthatyouareperfect.Infact,youhaveto
learntoloveyourimperfectionsinordertotrulyloveyourself.Mostpeoplewho
areegotisticalareactuallyveryself-critical.Theyarealwaysstrivingtobe
moreandmoreperfectinanimperfectworld.Whenyoucantrulyaccept
yourselfwithhumilityforwhoyouare,animperfecthumanbeing,youareon
thepathwaytoimmenseself-loveandfulfillment.Youwillbeabletoviewevery
otherpersonasyourspiritualbrotherorsister,andyourloveofotherswillonly
expandandgrow.
Takeafewminutestoleadyourgroupthroughthefollowingself-lovevisualization:Getcomfortable.Closeyoureyes.Takeafewdeepbreaths.Imaginebeingloved
byGod.Howdoesitfeeltobelovedsocompletelyandwithoutconditions?You
areachildofGodandhisloveforyouhasnoboundaries.Thinkoftheworkyou
havebeendoingoverthesepastweeks.Youhavebeenworkingverydiligently
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
22
onyourrecovery.Atthisverymoment,whatwordsofencouragementdoyou
needtohear,sothatyouknowyouarefullysupportedandloved.Hearthese
wordsbeingspokentoyounow.Hearthemcomingfromyourownlips,through
thelovingvoiceofGod.Howdoesitfeeltohearthesewordsoflove?Howwill
thisencouragementsupportyourhealingjourney?Whenyouareready,open
youreyesandwritethesewordsintheblankspaceoftheheartonyourcoloring
page.
Allowthegrouptimetocontinuecoloringandexpressingwordsofappreciation.Whentimeisup,closewithaprayerofhealingsupportandencouragethemtocontinuecoloringandjournalingintheirbooksastheycontinuetodiscoverwhatitmeanstogiveandreceivelove.
GracefulTransformation:AHealingColoringJourney—AGroupStudyGuide
23
ConclusionIhopethisguidehasbeenhelpfulforyouandyourgroup.Iencourageyoutoimproviseasyouseefitduringthecreativesessions.Everygroupisdifferentandwillhavedifferentneeds,butthethemesareuniversalenoughthatanyonecanreceivebenefitfromtheexercises.Creativeself-explorationisajourneyneverreallyends,becausetherearealwaysnewwaystogrowanddeepenourrelationshipwithGod,ourcreator.Iwishyouwellwithyourowngracefultransformation.