PB+ Resources
STRATEGY 4: PERSISTENCE
Aim : to demonstrate the importance of Persistence as a strategy
in relationship to the second theme 'There is nothing so awful that we
can't talk about it with someone' and personal networks.
Time : 15 - 20 minutes
Materials : Flip chart and marker pens
Introduction:
Ask the group to identify the second theme of Protective Behaviours.
('There is nothing so awful that we can't talk about it with someone')
Which other parts of the Protective Behaviours process, do you think
relate to that theme?
(networks, early warning signs, network review, one-step-removed, feelings
are feelings …)
Now, we're going to look at another strategy that can help us with this
theme: 'There is nothing so awful that we can't talk about it with someone'
Activity : The Persistence Game
Please choose a partner to work with.
Person 1 says to Person 2 "I need to talk to you."
Person 2 Looks up at the ceiling, or at a wristwatch, or sighs
Person 1, please take one minute to tell your partner something that
happened the last time you went shopping.
Now let's swap places.
Person 2 says to Person 1 "I need to talk to you."
Person 1 Looks up at the ceiling, or at a wristwatch, or sighs.
Person 2, please use the next minute to tell your partner about your
last birthday.
How did it feel to be ignored?
If that happened to you in real life and there was something really important
that you wanted to talk about with someone, what would you do?
(keep on until I found someone who will listen)
There's a word for keeping on keeping on - persistence.
When we try to find someone on our network to talk to and that person
isn't available, some people might be tempted to give up. But that's why
we have at least four people as well as the people at home on our networks.
When we find that our first choice is not there to talk to, we can go
on to our second choice.
If that person isn't around then what can we do?
(try another)
Try another and another and another until we find someone who will listen
to us.
That's what is known as persistence.
Epilogue:
Sometimes adults label persistent children as pests! In fact persistence
is one of the skills that can help us feel safe. In fact, there is a well
known proverb that is relevant to the strategy of persistence: If at first
you don't succeed, try, try again.
Possible adaptations or applications to the Church context:
- Romans 2. 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory,
honour and immortality, God will give eternal life.
- If people hadn't persisted when things got rough, the Bible would
be a very dull and uninspiring set of stories. Find as many examples
of persistence as possible.
- Explore some of the prophets. They are good examples of people who
kept on keeping on.
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