Lifeline: my story · worksheet 122
When you have moved a lot, life is often told place by place. Each city, each home left something: a language, friends, a smell, a way of being.
Before you start
- What it is for: To connect the pieces of a life spent in several places, and see what you carry with you everywhere.
- 20-30 minutes; photos or a map help.
- They can be countries, cities or homes, whichever comes most naturally.
- If a lot of homesickness comes up, worksheets 46 and 57 can support you.
Prefer paper? Download the PDF to print (with a page for psychologists).
What to do with your results
Notice what has stayed: values, tastes, people. It is your thread through the places.
If you find it hard
If a place mainly brings up sadness or homesickness, worksheets 46 and 57 can help. If a memory overwhelms you, stop: just write one word, do a grounding exercise (worksheet 04 or 93) and talk about it with your psychologist.
For psychologists
The PDF also includes a page for the psychologist: how to run the exercise in session, points to watch and scientific references. You are free to use it with your clients.
For psychologists: aim, audience and duration
Go through the life story by way of the places lived in (countries, cities, homes), which makes memories easier to access and gives continuity to paths marked by moves or migration.
Expatriates, migrants, children of diplomats or military families (“third culture kids”), frequent moves. Duration: 20-30 min.
References
Westerhof, G. J. & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2014). Celebrating fifty years of research and applications in reminiscence and life review: State of the art and new directions. Journal of Aging Studies, 29, 107-114.
McAdams, D. P. & McLean, K. C. (2013). Narrative identity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(3), 233-238.
McLean, K. C., Pasupathi, M. & Pals, J. L. (2007). Selves creating stories creating selves: A process model of self-development. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(3), 262-278.
These worksheets do not replace therapy. If you are in distress or having suicidal thoughts, call your local emergency number (112 in Europe; 3114 in France, free, 24/7).
Free worksheet for non-commercial use: you may share it with credit to the author, without modifying it (Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence).
