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This exercise can be used at almost any Bahá’í gathering, especially when discussing new ideas and plans. Consider using it at Feast as well! 

Purpose

To help participants understand their own reactions and thoughts about change, particularly in relation to the many changes occurring in the Baha'i community as we become more outwardly focused.  This is a really fun "get out of your chair" activity, which helps participants to deeply reflect on their ideas about "change".

Materials

None

Time Period

15 minutes

Steps

1.  Introduce the activity to the participants, sharing that we will be exploring "change" through an exercise.  Do not give too much away at this point. 

2.  Have participants partner in teams of two (only groups of two).  Have each team find a place in the room where they can stand comfortably with space to move around.  The two participants should stand and face each other, and memorize as best as possible in each other's appearance.  Give them about 30 seconds for this.  Then, the participants should turn "back to back" and make a "change" to their appearance.  Then, they turn face to face again and the participants try to tell each other the changes each made.  In the initial description of the exercise, do not give any suggestions about what kind of changes to make.

3.  The participants should do several rounds of this exercise. As the facilitator, help organize the activity by letting the teams know when start and stop each round.  You will probably notice that most people remove items to make a change in their appearance, like shoes or a sweater; or, they move things around, like cinching up their sleeve or changing the position of a scarf/tie. 

3.  After doing this exercise several times, have the participants sit down again.  Ask them to share with the group what types of changes they made.  After several people share, ask for a show of hands as to how many people removed items from their person when they made a change.  Then ask how many moved things around their person.  Finally, ask for a show of hands as to how many participants added something to their person (very few do this, you'll probably get no participants raising their hands). 

4.  Facilitate a short discussion on why so many of us think change means "taking something away" or "moving what we already have around", whereas change in the Baha'i community means building something new!  Ask participants to reflect on their own reactions to change.  Be prepared for some very lively consultation!