Positive Gossip

Instructions for the leader

Activity: Constructive Third-Party Affirmation Dyad Divide participants into pairs in a comfortable setting. Pre-Activity Guidance: Frame the exercise as a healthy subversion of negative gossip, focusing conversational energy on celebrating the positive traits and actions of absent peers or community members. Structure & Rules: Positive Gossip: Partners take turns enthusiastically praising third-party individuals they both know or have recently interacted with (e.g., "Did you see how patiently Sarah facilitated that tricky session yesterday?"). Conversational Expansion: Both partners build on the positive narrative, highlighting character strengths, creativity, and generosity observed in others. Timing: Run free-flowing positive conversation for 5–10 minutes, concluding with a brief whole-room share of inspiring traits highlighted.