Berlin Men's Group

Dear men, time for another virtual men's circle.

We'll meet remotely and spend an hour sharing directly from our own experience.

PLEASE NOTE: If this is your first Men's Circle with us, please take the time to read and understand the GUIDING PRINCIPLES at the bottom of this page before attending. The host will remind you of the most important of these before the circle begins.

Our Men's Circle format:

• Welcome from the session host
• Opening round - describe how you're feeling, in just three words
• Sharing round - expand on your initial thoughts, speaking freely
• Deepening round - the host may highlight a theme and pose a question, which we reflect individually, which may become -
• Open discussion
• Closing round - share what you'll be taking away from today

There's no need to prepare anything - just bring an open attitude towards the experience, and a curiousity to share and to listen.

Newcomers are welcome - and since this one is online, you can also join in from outside Berlin!

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. In the Men's Circle, our challenge is to only speak from the 'I' perspective.

So, instead of
"People always do x, the science says y, men have to be able to z"
bring it back to
"I think, I believe, I worry, I'm certain, I dont know if..."

Though it may feel unusual at first, maintaining this mental discipline is the key to a successful circle.

2. You may be interrupted if you have wandered away from the 'I' perspective. If you are, take a moment to reflect on why you were sharing what you were; then continue to speak from the perspective of why what you were sharing is important to you specifically.

3. Every man has the right to share or keep silent.

4. Every man’s story is equally significant; The man who is speaking is the focus of all attention.

5. Let each man finish what he has to say before speaking next.

6. When a man has finished speaking, listeners may ask if he is open to questions for the purpose of clarification. The speaker is not obliged to take anyone's question.

7. We don't offer advice, unless a speaker actively requests it. Even then, the parameters of what advice he wants may be made very specific - and any advice given should also be from an 'I' perspective. We are here to impart our own experience, not repeat insights or knowledge from others outside the circle.

8. As speakers we work to be as clear, brave and honest with our language as we can be. We calm our inner dialogue and its critics as much as we can, and presume good will on the part of our listeners.

9. What’s said in the group is strictly confidential, as is who you see there.

Lateness policy: In such a tightly-structured session, the flow of the circle is very important. Once the welcome round is over, access to the video call will be closed (circa five minutes after the official start time).