1. Spiritual Lesson: Spiritual Method: Informal Lecture
Length: 30 minutes(Lecture); 15 minutes (Activity)
References:
Making Hope Happen by Dr. Shane J. Lopez
Ochberg, Post-Traumatic Therapy And Victims Of Violence,” Psychology Press 1988
3. Airman and Family Resilience, Lessons from the Scientific Literature RAND
Project AIR FORCE Series on Resiliency, 2015
Aids/Handouts:
PowerPoint Presentation, Spiritual
RTA/FTAC Participant Guide
Lesson Strategy:
Begin the lesson by providing an overview of the topics (see next slide). Ensure students understand that this lesson is designed to provide them a familiarization of the Spiritual skill. You may choose to share a personal example about your experience as a RTA prior to becoming a MRT. Create the case: that RTAs are the Air Force’s tactical-level advocates for resilience skills.
While discussion is encouraged, this lesson is informational. Therefore, try to minimize philosophical debates about “why this?” or “why that?” policy. Use classroom management skills to move the module forward. As always, encourage your participants to provide feedback to your Community Support Coordinator using the prescribed feedback form.

2. Overview Goal/When Core Content Spiritual Attributes Benefits
Board of Directors
Hope
Meaning Making
Complementary Skills
Student Activity
Skill Review
MRT Instructions:
Provide a brief preview of the main points for this lesson. Try not to read each item as if you’re reading a laundry list.
2. An appropriate example for introducing the Spiritual Resilience would be, “As we’ve discussed in Check Your Playbook and Values Based Goals, we are influenced by different things, and we each have a unique set of values. When we talk about spirituality, for many people, that may mean religion, but not for everyone. Research has shown that a spirituality—or a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves can be a protective factor for adversity. This skill and more about giving you an opportunity to explore your spiritual resilience and how it helps you deal with stress and adversity, particularly how you make meaning from challenges and adversity.”
3. Ask the participants if they have any question so far, then proceed to the next slide.

3. Goal/When
Goal
To Identify the beliefs, principles, or values that sustain our sense of well-being, purpose and hope.
When
On a regular basis
When you need a sense of understanding, renewal or direction is needed
MRT Instructions:
MP 1: Goal/When
Goal
To Identify the beliefs, principles, or values that sustain our sense of well-being and purpose and hope.
When
You need a sense of understanding, renewal or direction is needed
On a regular basis

4. Core Content Spiritual Attributes
Growth
Connectedness
Meaning
Faith
Influence
Hope
MRT Instructions:
MP 2: Core Content / Spiritual Attributes
The purpose of this slide is to allow the students to mention adjectives or attributes that they think describe spiritual resilience. Remember there are no right or wrong answers here. Depending on time, this may be useful as an Ice-Breaker activity in groups of 3-4 students. Have them share what their group came up with in front of the class.
2. Mention the following attributes and see if any correlate with what the students describe Spirituality as:
No single definition
Personal choice and growth
Connectedness
Meaning
Becoming
Faith
Influence
Community
Inner Strength
Peace
Belief
Calling

5. Core Content Benefits Positive outlook Belief in ability to cope
Optimism
Positive outlook
Belief in ability to cope
Flexibility
Openness to change
Acceptance
Connecting
Stronger relationships
Nurturing Community
MRT Instructions:
MP 3: Benefits of Spiritual Resilience .
The purpose of this slide is to allow the students to reflect on the following benefits of Spiritual Resilience:
Optimism:
Positive outlook (knowing that the adversity reflects the worst and that life will get better)
Belief about one’s ability to cope with stress and adverse events
Ability to accept (not live in denial) and make meaning of the event
Flexibility- openness to change
Connecting to other people
Transition: Now that we know the benefits of Spiritual Resilience let’s discuss people and ideas that shape our spiritual resilience.

6. Core Content Board of Directors
People and ideas that influence you and form your world-view
(Ochberg, Post-Traumatic Therapy And Victims Of Violence,” Psychology Press 1988)
Past experiences
Sayings
Core values
MRT Instructions:
Discuss MP 4: Your Views and Board of Directors
Discuss some of the People and ideas that influence and form their world-view with the students:
These are a few examples you can use in class:
Past Experiences
Culture,
Spiritual Influences
Core Values – Are you acting on the values that are most important to you?
Family
Sayings
Transition: Explain that each of these influences (whether positive or negative) can help us deal with stress, or in some cases, influence the beliefs that drive unproductive reactions.
Culture
Spiritual Influences
Family

7. Core Content Board of Directors
What sits on your board?
MRT Instructions:
MP 4: Spiritual Board of Directors
A clinician who worked with people who had experienced adversity--Dr. Ochberg—developed the concept of a person’s “Board of Directors.” are the people and ideas that influence individuals and helps to form their world-view
These can be both positive and negative influences or events/people in your life
Reflect on those people and experiences that influenced our belief system
Understanding who or what is on our Board of Directors can help the following ways:
Understand where your values came from—and they can be people, experiences, or ideas
These members likely played a big role in shaping your values, and how you will think about situations and events.
Knowing you have the power to choose who gets a vote
MRT Note: Provide an example of your own Board of Directors. Point out that some people are on the Board because they’ve influenced you, but they aren’t necessarily voting members (e.g. a teacher who said you weren’t smart enough). That person has an influence on you, but you now get to decide whether or not that person will have a vote on the choice you make.
Student Activity:
Take some time in your small group to examine how you came to own some of your beliefs/views. Who or what is on your board of directors and how does that influence you?
Transition- We are sustained by not only the mentioned influences but the idea that there is something more to look forward to called Hope. Lets talk about the concept of Hope and how it can be a useful strategy to challenges.

8. Hope Core Content Hope Transformation Academics Career
MRT Instructions:
Discuss MP 5: Core Content / Hope
1. Some people manage to bounce back quickly from setbacks, to lead happy, healthy, productive lives, no matter their circumstances. For many of those people, hope and optimism are key tools that strengthen the foundation of their spiritual resilience.
2. Hope is the leading indicator of:
Success in relationships
Academics
Career and business
Transition: Hope is one useful strategy that can used during an adversity, Let’s discuss some aspects of using another strategy such as Making-Meaning  
Hope

9. Core Content Meaning-making
Post-challenge growth
Event
Resilience
Recovery
MRT Instructions:
Hope and spiritual resilience helps people bounce back after adversity. This diagram shows potential paths people may experience after a challenge. Some will struggle for some time to overcome the adversity, but many will use that event as an opportunity to grow.
You can experience post-adversity growth at any time. Even people who may have PTSD at some point can recover and experience post-traumatic growth.
A growth orientation will help you find meaning in adversity. Individuals with a growth mindset are open to new perspectives, and believe that challenges are an opportunity for personal growth.
This process can occur with any challenges—big or small.
MRT note: Have a range of examples on challenges or failures to ensure the audience doesn’t focus on traumatic events.
Post-challenge stress Disorder
(c) TechWerks 2015

10. Core Content Meaning Making
What else could this mean?
Can anything good come from this?
Can I apply lessons learned?
Did I develop strengths?
MRT Instructions:
Discuss MP 6: Core Content / Meaning-Making
When you encounter challenges, take time to consider how you might grow from the adversity.
What else could this situation or experience mean?
Can anything good come from it?
New opportunities?
What lessons can I learn and apply to the future?
Opportunity to reinforce my core values/beliefs?
Any new strengths as a result?

11. Core Content Complementary Skills
Values Based Goals
Capitalizing on Strengths
Mindfulness
Gratitude
MRT Instructions:
Discuss MP 6: Additional Skills
1. Discuss how many other skills can be used to lean on when you are going through adversity or want to strengthen your spiritual resilience.
Value Based Goals-expansion
Capitalizing on Strengths
Mindfulness
Gratitude
Check your Playbook

12. Student Activity
Think of a time you faced a challenge or adversity and grew personally or professionally
How did you find meaning? Write down the event and then discuss with a partner.
MRT Instructions:
RTC /Wingman Day Student Activity-Hope
Turn to your Participant guide:
Write down a time you faced a challenge and grew personally or professionally. Use the meaning-making questions to think about strengths you may have developed, lessons learned, opportunities, or anything good that may have come from it.
(We are not drawing from deep tragic events in this particular setting.) After you are finished, share your story with a partner.
FTAC: How did you maintain a positive outlook and make meaning of adversity, while leaving home for Basic Training or arriving at your first duty station?
Debrief
What ways does demonstrating a positive outlook promote your resilience?
What do you do that promotes your positivity?
Reflect for a moment on what hope means to you?
 Note* Let participants know they do not have to share a traumatic event—they can share a time they demonstrate Hope in everyday life

13. Skill Review: Goal, When, How
Spiritual
Goal:
To identify the beliefs or values that sustain our sense of well-being, purpose, and hope. To make meaning of the challenges we face.
When:
Set aside time on a regular basis to nurture your spiritual resilience
You need a sense of direction or renewal
How:
Identify your essential values
After adversity or challenge, ask yourself:
What else can the situation mean?
Can anything good come from it?
What lessons can I learn and apply in the future?
Did I develop any strengths as a results?
MRT Instructions: Skill Review
Conduct Skill Review by asking the students or explaining the Goal/When/How of the skill.

14. Spiritual MRT Instructions:
Close the lesson by re-motivating the students to the concepts taught during the Spiritual skill
Place on break