Page 38 - EAP Manual

OBS DES PART EXAMPLE
Here is an example of how the WHAT Skills are used together:
OBSERVE—Outside OBSERVE—Inside
DESCRIBE PARTICIPATE
Sara just found out that she got a D on her science final.
She noticed her jaw & body tensing up. She felt warm. She felt that
her fists wanted to hit the desk.
Sara said, “I studied for three hours last night. I’m so mad! I want to leave class.”
Sara stays in her seat and takes many deep breaths. She grabs her Silly Putty from her pocket & starts to squeeze it to release tension.
Core Mindfulness
What’s the end-game? What happened for Sara at the finish line?
It’s also helpful for me to OBSERVE, DESCRIBE, & PARTICIPATE even after I have Observed, Described, & Participated. I can do this over & over to keep the WHAT Skills rolling for as long as I want.
When I keep these skills rolling, I:
 notice what worked and what did not work the first time
 continue to be aware of my thoughts, feelings, wants, & actions
 can use more skills
Let’s look at how Sara kept her WHAT Skills rolling:
PARTICIPATE OBSERVE—Outside
DESCRIBE PARTICIPATE
Sara stays in her seat and takes many deep breaths. She grabs her Silly Putty from her pocket & starts to squeeze it to release tension. Sara notices that her classmates are not looking at her. She notices that she is quiet.
Sara said to herself, “I’m feeling calmer. I don’t want to hit anything.” After class, Sara approached her teacher and asked about extra credit
opportunities to raise her grade.
OBSERVE—Inside
She notices that her body is beginning to calm down & relax. Although she is not happy about her grade, she no longer wants to hit the desk.
What’s the end-game now? What happened for Sara at this finish line?
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