I got to lead a workshop with our entire staff. It was amazing!! I chose the “Handprints” workshop but adapted it to be about the negatives that we have gone through in the past year on the left hand and the positives that we had or are hoping for in this new year on the right hand.

We as an agency, and for a lot of us personally, really had a rough 2020. A lot of negativity had really built up and contributed to what was becoming a toxic environment in the office. People were really holding on to everything that went wrong at different times or grievances they had from months ago. So even when we had good moments there always seemed to be this cloud hanging over us.

When I came across this workshop I thought it would be a perfect way to get the staff talking to each other about all the ups and downs of the past year and what we want for this new year. It really got everyone talking and finally highlighting the positives rather than focusing on the negatives. As we discussed things we had on our left (negative hand) people really started to realize how harmful the environment had become for some of us, how much personal trauma some of us were going through that maybe some hadn’t realized, etc.

When we got to the end I asked them to think about all the negativity they have on their left hand and whether or not they wanted to continue to hold on to that or if they were ready to let it go. Several of them ripped the left hand off of their picture and tore it to shreds. It was amazing!! Those that did not, said they wanted to keep it as a reminder of what they didn’t want to go back to.

One coworker said, “I’ve learned to appreciate the little things,” referring to what she highlighted on her right (positive) hand. Another one said, “By focusing on the positives I’ve been able to see that there is a blessing to be found in every situation”. That really resonated with me as that has been my goal for this year, to focus on the positives and trying to find that blessing and that silver lining in everything.

I had several coworkers come to me afterward to let me know how much they really appreciated that workshop and how hopeful they are that this will be a positive step forward for each of us.