Task 1 

In order to be prepared to help people discover and explore their own identities, it is important that you also are very aware of your own, multilayered identity. That is why we would like to invite you to do a small exercise called the identity molecule.  For this you will need a piece of paper and something to write. 

Start with drawing a big circle in the middle of the paper with your name written inside of it. Then, draw five or six smaller circles around it and connected them to the one with your name.    Your task is to write down a group you belong to in every empty circle. Groups can be different, but it is important that you write down things that define you and are important to you. For example, you can identify yourself  as a member of a nation, a follower of a religion,  a professional or a student, you can also identify yourself through your personal relations, meaning that you could write down that you are a brother/mother/wife etc.  Another way is to think if you have any hobbies or particular interests that are important for your sense of identity. 

Once you are ready,  rate the identities from the ones that are the most important to you to those that are the least significant or central.  For every identity, reflect on whether it was something that you were born into or something you have chosen yourself. Observe how you feel depending on the answer. 

In the next step, write down the list of values related to every identity/group you belong to. It very often happens that values related to different identities are contradictory. If this your case, observe how this makes you feel. 

The point of this exercise is to understand who you are, that identities are complex, and that the values connected to them do have a significant influence on what you do/not do in life.