One-off workshop: Emotional baggage

People often carry their past experiences like baggage. It shapes them into who they are. Some drag cases of emotional luggage, while others carry relatively little. The past affects people in the present and future in different ways. Carrying that baggage is like going on holiday with a case of old encyclopaedias or bag of cement.

This workshop is an exercise in using human experiences to develop credible characters.

Emotional Baggage: Causes, Signs and Ways to Cope: http://bonobology.com/emotional-baggagebonobology.com/emotional-baggage

Emotional Baggage: 6 signs you have it and how to let it go: http://hackspirit.com/emotional-baggage-signs-you-have-it-and-how-to-let-it-gohackspirit.com/emotional-baggage-signs-you-have-it-and-how-to-let-it-go

Ask students to find a space and move around a square metre as if they are joyful, free, and without cares or worries. Add an imaginary heavy box to carry. Then a full suitcase. Then another. Then bags around their neck. Then a ball and chain round their ankles. How do they move now? Explain to them that they’re carrying memories from their past they can’t shake off.