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Sample Page HOW TO USE FREE YOUR MIND AND THIS GUIDE This guide will help you focus on your objectives. It also provides practical strategies for using the Free Your Mind program, as well as suggestions for successful facilitation. Since your time frame, population and objectives may vary, this guide offers many activity and exercise suggestions. For example, depending upon the amount of time you plan to spend on Free Your Mind, you will want to supplement the workbook activitites in this guide, include materials from other sources or simply stick to the material in the workbook. We encourage you to use your creativity when constructing your curriculum. Each population will vary and what works with one group may or may not work with the next. The Free Your Mind program is flexible and will allow you to tailor it to fit your specific needs. However, the videos take the view from problem to solution. Since the videos and subsequent questions and exercises in the workbook are sequential in nature - each section builds on the previous - it is important to move through the workbook assignments in the order they are presented. The program's simple design leaves you available to concentrate on assisting those participating to get the most out of it. Show each videotape and pause, as stated in the video, so they may complete the questions and activites in the workbook. At any time appropriate, you may add exercises and activities. (See section on Group Strategies.) TRUST Many of the participants you will be working with come to you with severe backgrounds which include violence, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of suitable role models, physical abuse and more. As you are well aware, they have learned not to trust, especially those in positions of authority. Some may be willing and eager to proceed through the Free Your Mind program, others may proceed reluctantly and still others may reject it. As a facilitator, you have the opportunity to create an environment most compatible with open-mindedness,self-awareness and change. Trust will play a major part of this, For those excited by the idea of participating in the Free Your Mind program, this will not pose a problem, but for those individuals less inspired by it, a trusting atmosphere will help them change their view. One technique which is often successful is self-disclosure. When a facilitator honestly admits mistakes, faulty thinking or denial, for instance, others may feel less inhibited to do the same. Everyone likes to feel that he or she is not alone. Setting an example of honesty and open-mindedness can assure them that it is a safe environment, one in which self-awareness and change can flourish. It is possible that some participants will feel uncomfortable asking questions when they don't understand something. Perhaps they just need a word defined or concept restated. 
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