As part of the “Side by Side: United Communities” project, specialists from the Toretsk Community Resilience Center—who are currently based in Kyiv—joined forces with colleagues from the Ruzhyn Community Resilience Center to conduct a psychological training session titled “A Letter of Support to Yourself.”
The event took place online and brought together participants who sought to better understand their own emotions and find inner resources to overcome life’s challenges.
The training served as an important space for open dialogue, self-reflection, and emotional support. During the session, participants learned about an effective psychological tool—a letter of support to oneself. This is a special practice in which a person writes to themselves to express words of support, compassion, and belief in their own strength.
Experts explained that this exercise helps one pause for a moment, become aware of one’s own feelings, and view a difficult situation with greater self-compassion. Participants learned to formulate warm and encouraging words that can serve as a source of strength during life’s difficult moments.
During the practical part of the training, everyone had the opportunity to write their own letter of support to themselves. In these letters, people reminded themselves of their strengths, the challenges they’ve overcome, their dreams, and their values. This exercise promotes the development of self-support, boosts self-esteem, and helps stabilize one’s emotional state.
Experts emphasized that such practices are particularly important during times of heightened emotional stress. They help people feel a sense of self-worth, tap into their inner resources, and maintain psychological balance.
Based on materials from the Toretsk City Military Administration