RESILIENCE

Resilient Thinking

Goal To discuss how to make stress a friend by understanding the results ofstress can be changed by our mindset.

Discussion Questions 1. What is your existing belief about stress?

2. What are ways you have used stress positively?

3. If viewing stress as a positive reduces the negative effects of stress, how can youobtain a mindset that when you are effected by stress you immediately thinkpositively about it versus negatively?

4. Can you describe your perception on how you have power and control over howyou respond to situtations?

5. According to Kelly, research proves that "chasing meaning is better for yourhealth than trying to avoid discomfort:· Have you ever avoided an opportunity youwanted to pursue because of the potential stress it would cause? If so, what was it,and would you have made a different decision if you focused on finding meaning?

6. Kelly shares research showing that stress releases oxytocin, which motivates youto seek support and crave contact with friends and family. When you're stressed,do you seek support? Is it an effective strategy for you? How does it make youfeel?

Apply It - One Action The video references a study that found caring for other people reduces the harmful effects of stress and extends life expectancy. When you choose to connect with others while you're feeling stressed, she says, ''you can create resilience:· Identify one person you will reach out to when you experience stress. Use the questions below to help you create a plan for connecting with this person. • Whom do you plan to reach out to?• How will you reach out to this person?• What do you expect from the interaction?• Why did you choose this person?

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Video Option Time permitted watch it during the session, if not,

recap the video in your intro

5min

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Video 1

Video is linked to AFPC Resilience Operations SharePoint

SESSION RESOURCES St'le$S

Preparing for the small group discussion is important but does not need to take a lot of time. We have provided a few resources

related to the topic below to assist you with this. It is highly recommended small group facilitators review the videos and

resource materials prior to hosting the discussion. The community resource matrix is also a tool recommended to have on hand

during discussions.

Facilitator Notes ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH TOPIC • Review the Resilience Quick Grip resources• The references can also be used to conduct more research on the topic

PREPARE • Review the Quick Grip as it is designed to assist with creating your

discussion flow, starting with the videos, the proposed questions,activities/games, and apply it tools

• Ensure the venue and environment will encourage dialogue with the group• Determine what you may need (audio visual, supplies, or games)

GET HELP FROM TECHNOLOGY • Facilitators can use apps to enhance engagement such as KAHOOT!,

TriviaMaker, and MeetingPulse• Videos are also a great tool to use whenever possible. The videos

provided in the Quick Grip were selected to provide an overview of thetopic for discussion

LEADING SMALL GROUP TUTORIALS

Reference to these videos does Group Leadership Group Leadership Group Leadership not constitute or imply an Slrills Part 113minl Skills Part 2 (4min) Skills Part 3 (7min) endorsement by the Air Force and is intended to be offered as a resource tool only.

View our

library

References

Mobile Game-Optional Questions Below are some sample questions that can be used in a mobile game tool related to the topic, however you may choose to use other questions to fit your audience.

1. According to a 2014 American lnstitute of Stress surveywhat is the number one factor contributing to stress inthe US? A. Work B. Money. C. Health D. RelationshipsAnswer: A. then B, C and D

2. What percent said stress has a negative impact ontheir personal and professional life from same study?A. 20%. B. 53% C. 48% D. 71%Answer C. 48%

3. What percent said stress has caused them to fightwith people close to them from the same study?A. 40% B. 15% C. 63% D. 54%Answer: D. 54%

4. What percent of people who cited fatigue as a physical

symptom from stress?

A. 40% B. 51% C. 63% D. 54%

Answer: B. 51%

https://www .stress.org/stress-research

1 Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the • New Science of Success Steve Magness & Brad Stulberg ISBN 978-1623367930

Community Resource

Matrix

2 The American Institute for Stress• https://www .stress.org/

3 The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living • Anit Sood ISBN· 10: 0738217123

4 The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, & How to Get Good at It• Kelly McGonigal ISBN-10: 1101982934

5 D0n1t Sweat the Small Stuff ... and lt1s All Small Stuff • Richard Carlson ISBN· 10: 0786881852

Installations should tailor the community resource

matrix tool. A guide on how to modify the matrix is

included in the Resilience Toolkit. It is recommended

facilitators have a copy of the matrix on hand during

session( s ).

Download Complete Content Materials Resilience Ops SharePoint

Installation Helping

Matrix

Commander

Supervisor

Sergeant

Airman &

Family

Readiness

Center

Military

Family Life

Counselor

(MFLC)

Alcohol &

Drug Abuse

Prevention

(ADAPT)

Chaplain

Civilian Employee Assistance Program

Community Support

Coordinator MRTs

Equal

Opportunity

Family

Advocacy

Program

(FAP)

Health

Promotion

Legal Office

Mental

Health (MH)

Clinic

Sexual Assault

Response

24hr Hotline

Violence

Prevention

Program

Telephone

We are here to assist All All Military and

Family Members Military All Civ/NAF All All

Military and Family Members

All Military and

Family Members Military and

Family Members All All

Life

Str

ess

ors

Alcohol/Drugs must report to

ADAPT ● ● ● ●

Casualty Assistance ● ● ●

Anxiety/Panic/Depression ● ● ● ● ●

Children's School Issues ● ● ● ●

Communication ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Deployment ● ● ● ● ●

Dispute Resolution (NDR) ● ●

Domestic Violence must report to ADAPT

must report to FAP

● ● ● ● Prevention

Employment ● ● ●

Fatigue/Sleep ● ● ● ● ● ●

Finances/Budget ● ● ●

Grief ● ● ● ● ● ●

Homicidal Thoughts must report law

enforcement ● must report to MH ● ● ● ● Prevention

House/Car Buying ● ● ●

Loneliness/ Isolation ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Marriage/Divorce ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Problem Solving ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Parenting ● ● ● ●

Performance ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Tobacco Cessation ● ● ●

Relationships ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Retirement/ Separation Stress ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Sexual Assault must report law

enforcement must report to

SARC ● ●

must report law enforcement

must report law enforcement

● Prevention

Special Needs Family Mbr ● ● ●

Spouse Education ● ● ●

Suicidal Thoughts must report to Mental Health

Health

● must report to Mental Health

● ● ● ● Prevention

Sexual Harassment/

Unlawful Discrimination must report EO ● ● ● ●

Fitness/Weight/Nutrition Mgt ● ● ●

Workplace Stress ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Funding to Support Training/Prevention Activities

● ● ● ●

MUL Tl TASKING Purpose

This exercise can be used for any group and the benefits are numerous. The best way to use this exercise is

by processing it afterward by discussing it using the debrief points.

Materials needed: Stress balls [one per member/group).

Instructions 1. Have everyone stand in a circle.

2. One person starts out with one ball and tosses it to someone else, remembering who they tossed it to.

3. The next person tosses it to someone who has not had the ball yet, remembering who they tossed it to.

4. The third person tosses it to someone who has not had the ball yet, remembering who they tossed it to.

5. This continues until everyone has had the ball and it returns to the first person who started.

6. The pattern is repeated (each person always tossing it to the same person) until it is remembered easily. Each person

only needs to remember who they toss the stress ball to and who they receive it from.

7. Once the group remembers the pattern easily, introduce more balls into the same pattern, with the first person tossing

one stress ball, then another, then another, to the same person, who then passes on each ball to the next person in the

pattern.

B. If balls fall or roll, pick them up and continue the pattern until everyone is laughing too hard to play effectively, or until

about five minutes are up.

DEBRIEF POINTS

Multitasking - The ability to multitask is a myth. People believe that they can 11juggle11 multiple tasks successfully, but no

one can do several things at once as well as they can do one thing at a time.

Discuss how easy the exercise was with one stress ball versus with several.

Discuss how important it is to focus on responsibilities and use time management to get each one done individually and

thoroughly.