This workshop, facilitated for fellow staff at A New Leaf, focused on promoting self-confidence, emotional awareness, and positive self-talk through the use of affirmations. Staff were provided with a printed list of affirmations covering themes such as self-worth, resilience, and motivation. They were encouraged to select statements that resonated with their personal experiences or current challenges. This allowed each person to engage in a meaningful and individualized process of reflection and choice.

The use of affirmations is important because it encourages individuals to challenge negative self-perceptions and replace them with constructive, empowering beliefs. The art activity involved participants cutting out paper hearts and writing their chosen affirmations on them. The visual and creative elements of the activity further supported this process by making the affirmations more tangible and personal. This helped reinforce the messages each staff selected for themselves, making the experience more engaging and memorable.

Staff were then given the option to hang their affirmation hearts using string, creating a visual display of positivity, or to complete a worksheet version where they could decorate and personalize their affirmations in a way that felt meaningful to them. This flexibility ensured that all participants could engage comfortably, regardless of their creative preferences.

Overall, the workshop created a supportive and encouraging environment where staff could explore their self-expression and positive thinking. The activity not only helped them identify affirmations that resonated with them but also provided them with a tool they can continue to use beyond the session. Participants left with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed commitment to practicing affirmations as part of their daily routine.