Welcome to MONDAY SCHOOL'S

(re)Build Community & Connection Module

We have completed the Self Inclusion Pillar that was focused on us connecting with the various parts of ourselves.

We are now transitioning to the (re)Build Pillar that is focused on practical work of rebuilding our lives after religion, now that we have done powerful inner work.

With this lesson we review some of Monday School's basic building blocks to see how this module fits into the overall curriculum.

Think back to our three buckets of negative thoughts that we uncovered in your deconstruction story.

• Something wrong with me
• Something wrong with others
• Something wrong with authority

We talked about how these negative thoughts might be a pattern that continually showed up in your life. Are they showing up now? Are these negative thoughts impacting your ability to create and build the community and connections that you want? Think about the thoughts you have about rebuilding this area of your life now.

Here are some example negative thoughts from the buckets that might sound familiar.

• I'm too weird and different, I'll never find people that understand me. (Something wrong with me)
• You can't trust people. They will always try to manipulate you and use you for their gain. (Something wrong with others)
• I have no interest in joining that organization. It's the bigwigs at HQ that dictate what happen. They never listen to what is happening at the grassroots level. (Something wrong with authority)

You know the drill. It's not enough to recognize these negative thoughts. It's time to talk back to these limiting beliefs. Make sure your truth statements are honest and true. It is not helpful to simply speak lies to lies.

Here are some sample powerful truth statements:

I am unique. I proudly wave my freak-flag high. I will not shrink myself to make others comfortable. There are people who would be more comfortable with my shrinking. That's their thought -not mine. They are on their path I am on mine. There are others like me. We are kindred spirits in our unique expressions. We will value and admire each other at a deep level. I will find them. I will keep looking for them.

I have been hurt by people in the past. I was taken advantage of. I was not treated with respect. I was not treated as an equal. I will now limit my relationships with to people who only treat me with the dignity and admiration that I deserve. I will reciprocate respect in return. I will find these compatriots. I will keep looking for them.

Power often results in injustice. My cries for justice have felt unheard in the past. I will not let this stop my engagement in the social issues I feel drawn to. I will continue to develop my skills and abilities so that I can effect the change that needs to happen. It is only through my participation with others that change will happen.

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Spend time this week reviewing how your negative thought patterns are still holding you back. Write out your powerful truth statements (not just simple affirmations) to combat those unhelpful thoughts using the exercise below.