Self-guided activity: Ourselves on the inside and outside

What will you need?

• A place where you can sit comfortably and draw or write, and a table or hard, flat surface to put the paper on.
• A piece of paper, and pen or pencil.

Step by step

Start by sitting somewhere where you are comfortable and have a clean, flat surface to put the paper on.

Have your paper and pen or pencil ready.

1. Close your eyes for a minute and try to think of six different words that describe you. Don’t say them out loud, just think about them.
   Try to include at least one word that describes something about you that you are proud of or feel good about!
2. Open your eyes and take out your pencil and paper.
   Draw a very big circle in the middle of the paper.
   This circle represents you - your mind, your face, yourself.
3. Remember the six words you thought of to describe yourself.
   Maybe some of these words describe what you are like on the inside, and some describe what you are like on the outside.
4. In the space inside the circle draw what you are like on the inside.
   Try to express yourself by drawing, but write a few words if that helps you to better express yourself!
5. Outside the circle, draw or write what you are like on the outside.
6. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way of doing this exercise.
   Don’t worry if you don’t know how to draw well but do give it a try!

Create more

• Think about more words that describe you inside and outside. Draw or write them on your drawing. You can also add images that you can cut out from newspapers and magazines and place on the drawing.
• Look at your drawing and see if you can write a little story about yourself using the words you chose to describe yourself on the inside and outside in words. You can also use other words you thought of while making your drawing.
• After a few days or longer, look at your drawing again. Does it still describe you? Add drawings or words or make any other changes if you wish.

Share

Online:

• Send a photo of your drawing (if you did the extra exercise, you can also send the text that you wrote) to your chat group.
• Look at what the others have shared in the chat group to see what they drew and how they described themselves. Ask them questions about their drawings and tell them about your drawing and your experience. Talk with them about the similarities and differences you noticed.

Everyone (online and offline):

• Keep your drawing somewhere where you can look at it every day. For example, you might hang it on your wall.
• Only if you wish! Show your drawing to others in your household or put it somewhere they will be able to see it. Explain your drawing to them or invite them to ask you about it.
• Do not feel that you need to show your drawing to others if you do not wish to do so.