Trust is such an important question for children, young people, and adults alike! Brene Brown’s idea of Marble Jar Friends helps us recognize that trust is built over time, one marble at a time. 🏺✨
In my work with children and young people, I often share this concept to open the door to meaningful conversations. I remember supporting a child who was struggling with their relationship with their younger sibling. They were trying so hard to stop hurting them both physically and verbally. Despite their efforts to be kind for a whole week, their younger sibling didn’t seem to notice. 😔
As we discussed the idea of Marble Jar Friends, the child thought deeply and said, “I have been kind this week, and those are like black and sparkly marbles. Really sparkly. But their marble jar for me is full of yucky brown marbles - loads of them. It must be hard for them to see the black and sparkly marbles in there. They might not see them until I put more black and sparkly marbles in there.” 🌈
This conversation helped us explore that each black and shiny marble added that week was special and important. But it also highlighted that trust takes time to rebuild, especially when the jar has been filled with yucky brown marbles for so long. 🌟
Every act of kindness and trustworthiness adds a beautiful marble to someone’s jar.
Please share this with anyone who needs it 💝
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