Swedish Story

Setup

Participants sit or stand in a circle. The facilitator establishes that the group will build a single story together, with each person contributing before passing to the next.

Starting the Story

One person begins with a sentence or two that establishes a character, setting, or situation. They speak clearly and briefly, leaving room for the next person to continue.

Passing the Story

Each person adds to the story and then passes to the next. The transition can be indicated by eye contact, a gesture, or simply pausing to signal completion. The next person continues from exactly where the previous person left off.

Accepting and Building

Participants practice accepting whatever the previous person introduced and building forward from it. The exercise makes the choice to accept or block tangible: when someone redirects the story, the group feels it.

Multiple Passes

The story travels around the circle multiple times. Each pass deepens the narrative and gives participants repeated practice at both contribution and acceptance.

Completion

The story concludes naturally or when the facilitator guides the group toward an ending. The debrief explores what felt easy and what felt difficult about building a shared narrative.