Frequently asked questions ...

During the trial of the FabFirst5 process, many people asked questions like:

What else can we do with this PossibiliTree™?
Well, as the old saying goes ... ‘the possibilities are endless!’ If you find new ways to use the tree and leaves, please contact us and we will share them with the world on this page. Here are just a couple of ideas:

• Make a Family Tree:
  This is a great way to learn the process together and come up with new ideas about how to manage day-to-day family challenges. By doing it as a group, you get to ‘brainstorm’ suggestions for possibilities.
  Brainstorming is about getting everyone to put forward their ideas. Even if an idea sounds silly or perhaps unworkable, it may give way for other ideas to come, so it's important that all ideas are considered and written down. This is also important because it validates everyone and their ideas. (People who are told too often that their ideas are ‘silly’, often are less willing to participate).
  
  
• Consider other emotions such as anger, fear, loneliness, annoyance, sadness etc. and use different colours for these leaves.
  (Print out the B&W leaves and colour them in with your own colours)
  By asking yourself, ‘what do I fear?’, ‘what makes me angry?’ etc, you can begin to consider new ways of managing these situations before they arise (before you are in the midst of the emotion). It's often more difficult to think clearly and come up with new plans and behaviours, when we are under stress.

Do we really need to leave the problem / worry leaves on the PossibiliTree™?

• It all depends ...
  If your child or student (or you, yourself) feel better by removing the leaves once the possibility or wishing leaf has been put on the tree, then by all means remove the leaf. This can help you to accept that you have another way of managing the worry and it's time to let it go!
  
  On the other hand, it may be helpful to leave it on the tree (facing inwards) and stick the ‘possibility’ or ‘wishing leaf’ on top (facing out) so that down the track, you can flip the leaf over and realise that the thing which you considered to be a problem earlier on, is now either; much less of a problem, or has gone altogether. This helps when other troubles come along, to remember that things are not always as diabolical as we often think them to be!

How can adults use the tree for themselves?

• Exactly the same way that kids can use it ...
  As adults, we often overlook simple ideas and concepts thinking that things need to be complicated to be worthwhile. Simple is often best. Go ahead and use the tree, whatever your age. Sometimes we all need help and the tree and leaves are here waiting for you to help yourself! (Julie has one full of goals and looks at it everyday).
  
  Most of Julie's work is created for children because she knows that prevention is much easier and more effective than cure. If you are reading this and you are experiencing difficulties in any area of your life, then try the tree and see how often you can remind yourself to switch your focus from problems to possibilities.
  
  Every time you switch your focus to positive thoughts, you are training yourself and your mind to be more positive and optimistic. This is how habits are created. Once a habit is established, you are more likely to choose your thoughts and actions according to the new habit and the more you do that, the old habits can then fade away and gradually disappear.

If you have questions for Julie, about the FabFirst5 or the PossibiliTree, please contact us. Your questions may be used on this page to help others use the process in the future.