Cup 'O Affirmation

One of the things we used to do on our Winter Retreats that really had a cool impact on the adults and the students was something we called...

Cup 'O Affirmation

What It Is:
Everyone is given a cup (big red plastic ones) to write their name on with pen. (Or a newer, modern - more expensive option would be an Etch-it cup.) This cup will be used to collect affirmations that others write about each person.

How It Works:
On the last night of Winter Retreat and into the next morning people are told to write something that they like/appreciate about each person, fold it up and go put it in their cup. They do this for all of the students and adults who are there. We usually do this with everyone sitting around the room and some music playing in the background. When you're all done each person ends up with a cup full of positive things about themselves to read.

Extra Advice:

• Make sure to give a lot of time for this. It takes a good amount of time even with a smaller sized group!
• Make sure to have enough cups, pens (to write and ones to write on cups), and paper (people can tear strips off binder or printer paper) so that you don't run out.
• The cool thing about doing it on a retreat is there's a different intimacy level that people have and feel for each other at the end of a good retreat that you just don't get from every day interactions.

The Impact:
It's hard to really get across how powerful this exercise is at the end of a retreat. The only thing I can compare it too is sitting around getting your yearbook signed by all your friends at school. But it's more than that. It really allows people to grow closer and edify each other like nothing else we ever did. The things that people write are so cool that many students (and ADULTS) keep the cups for a long time after wards!

I'd encourage you to try it on your Winter Retreat or any retreat! It's simple but powerful!