Authentic Connection: Joy Toss Opener Activity
We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.
– Joseph Campbell
INTRO
This versatile icebreaker/opener activity—from Jocelyn Bigay at LMB Consulting—is fantastic for students, staff, leadership teams, peer groups, etc. It certainly functions as any “typical” icebreaker, but with the focus on joy and strengthening skills of listening and focus, the opportunity for more authentic positive connections is possible.
OBJECTIVES
- Begin developing authentic connections by getting to know each person’s joy
- Strengthen skills related to listening and focus
OPENER ACTIVITY
- Divide into groups of 6–8 people
- Stand up, form a circle with your group
- Going in a circle, have each person answer the following question using only ONE word: What brings you joy?
- Pay close attention to the word each person shares
- Introduce one item to be tossed around the group (could be a ball, stuffed animal, etc.)
- Tossing has to be across the circle — it cannot be handed to the person next to you
- When you toss the item to another person, you have to say the word that brings them joy
- Make sure each person in the circle gets a turn to toss the item, each time saying aloud the word that brings joy to the person you are throwing to
- Go through the same sequence several times (you will toss the item to the same person each time)
- Introduce a second and third item to toss (up to four) into the group, so there will be multiple items moving around the circle at the same time
- Follow the same tossing sequence; each time saying aloud the word that brings join to the person you are throwing to
- Things will get chaotic! But in a totally fun way!
Time permitting, you can mix up participants into different groups and repeat the activity, to allow for even more connections to be made.
POST-ACTIVITY GROUP REFLECTION
- ASK:
- How was the experience?
- How many of you got a rhythm with all the items being tossed around?
- What skills were you using during this activity
- Spend a few minutes unpacking the responses. Areas of focus could be:
- The idea that you need to begin with listening skills, you may be in environments where things are chaotic and busy, but listening is important
- This was a fun game, but in the midst of chaos and having different things thrown at you (priorities, situations, etc.) you were still able to find the humor and fun. Joy can still exist in the most chaotic environments. What do you choose to focus on?
- If you found the rhythm, it’s likely because at some point you all realized you had to prioritize and focus on who you were passing to and who you were receiving from. Narrowing the focus on what was most important.
Responses