PB+ Resources

THE SAFETY CONTINUUM

Aim : to introduce the concepts of Choice, Control and Time Limit.

Time : 15 - 20 minutes

Materials :

• Four signs labelled Feeling Safe
• Fun to Feel Scared
• Risking on Purpose
• Feeling Unsafe
• Flip chart or other paper to note down scenarios
• Markers or pens

Introduction:

• Have you ever wanted to do something that was fun, but you felt scared at the same time?
• Did you do it anyway?
• What choices did you make?
• Where in your body did you feel it was fun to be scared?
• Are those feelings the same when you're really scared?

Sometimes it's fun and exciting to feel scared. It can help us overcome fears or extend our physical limits. Every activity in life involves an element of risk and adventure. If we never take these opportunities, life can be very boring. It's important to remember that safety is not about hiding away, refusing to try new things, being suspicious of anything new or different.

It can help to think of safety as a continuum like this :

Feeling safe >> Fun to feel scared >> Risking on purpose >> Feeling unsafe

Feeling safe
Remembering our safe place can help us to get in touch with feeling safe. You might like to recall the work undertaken in the guided visualisation Finding our own safe place.

Fun to feel scared
We can enjoy the adrenalin rush of activities like the rides at Alton Towers, fast sports, scary films etc. We have chosen to do the activity; we are in control of the situation; we know that the activity will end. The key words for us are choice; control; time limit.

Risking on purpose
Sometimes when we are doing new things we may feel uncomfortable or worried about how they will turn out. When our early warning signs alert us to discomfort, unease or danger, but nevertheless we go ahead because we want the desired outcome. We recognise that we have a choice, some control over the situation and that there is a time limit. This is called risking on purpose.

Feeling unsafe
We can feel unsafe when we have recognised the early warning signals, but feel that we don't have any choice, that we are not in control, or are not sure how long the situation will last. We can ask for help if we are feeling unsafe.

Of course, there are shades in between these four categories, and we are going to explore those in this game.

Activity : The Safety Thermometer
Imagine there is a thermometer on the floor. At the end nearest to us is our place of safety where we know what it is like to feel safe. I am going to mark it with this card Feeling Safe. A third of the way down the room I am putting down another marker: Fun to feel Scared. Two thirds of the way down, I'll put the marker for Risking on Purpose and at the opposite end of the room from Feeling Safe, I'll put Feeling Unsafe.

I am going to read out a number of examples of situations in which we might find ourselves. As I read out each one, go with your immediate reaction and place yourself on the safety thermometer to say how you think you would feel in that situation. Remember that feelings are feelings and they are neither good nor bad. They are part of our early warning system.

Here is the first: a bicycle going fast down a steep hill.
Find your place on the safety thermometer for that situation.

The leader might care to comment about the distribution of the group to affirm that what feels fun to one person may be feel unsafe to another.

Now decide with the people nearest to you on the Safety Thermometer what Choices you might have in this situation.

Ask the group to come back to the place of safety before asking for feed back from the groups. This action will unconsciously reinforce the idea that we can always return to our place of safety when we feel unsafe. In the feedback, it is probable that people will mention examples of control (using the brakes), as well as time limit (you come to the bottom): all of this can be used to reinforce the three concepts.

Good. Now here is another situation: a white knuckle ride at an amusement park.
Where will you stand on the Safety Thermometer this time? It's time to go to your chosen spot.

OK. This time, I'd like you to think about the control that you might have in that situation. Again, talk with the people nearest to you and come up with one or two ideas.

Again, gather the whole group in the place of safety before feedback begins.

Here is the last situation for this session: a walk through the woods on a beautiful autumn day. Choose the place for you on the Safety Thermometer.

Comment upon the distribution to the effect that whilst some may feel exhilarated or calm by a walk through the woods, others may feel uncomfortable.

This time gather the group together in the safe place and explore the reactions to this activity. It may be possible to explore issues of safety from the perspective of gender, depending upon the maturity of the group, whilst highlighting the three concepts: Choice; Control; Time Limit.

Optional follow-up discussion:
After the game, ask the group to suggest activities that fall into the four categories on the safety continuum. These could be added to the list of situations and used on another occasion, perhaps with another group.

Epilogue:
How we approach risky or adventurous activities is very important. The approach we choose can help us decide how best to tackle a situation. Each of us will do that in a different way because we are individuals. What is right for one, may not necessarily be right for someone else. The important questions to ask are:

• Do I have a choice?
• Do I have control?
• Does it feel like it will end?

Possible adaptations or applications to the Church context:
Look at Psalm 139.
Can the group compose a modern psalm with stanzas based upon the safety continuum model?

 PB+ Documents

• Theological Reflection
• Aide Memoire

• Theme 1
• Theme 2
• Strategy 1
• Strategy 2
• Strategy 3
• Strategy 4
• Strategy 5
• Strategy 6
• Strategy 7
• Creating & Reviewing a Network
• Feelings are Feelings
• Unwritten Rules
• The Safety Continuum
• Finding Our Own Safe Place
• Rights and Responsibilities

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