Topic: Honoring Our Feelings
ALL FEELINGS MATTER. The good, the bad and the ugly feelings too. We honor our feelings when we are allow ourselves to feel and express our feelings no matter what we may be feeling. This begins the process of transforming negative feelings into positive ones.
All feelings, good or bad, have the power to create good in our lives.
We know to follow good feelings and do the things that make us feel good and enrich our lives. We also need to learn that bad feelings always have something to teach us and that this lesson will create a positive effect in our lives. Therefore, all feelings are good feelings.
We can honor our feelings in many ways. First, allow yourself to feel your feelings and know that it is perfectly ok to feel whatever you may be feeling. Second, we can express our feelings by talking to someone we trust about how we are feeling, and through creative expression, such as, writing about how you feel, drawing or painting a picture about how you feel. Third, ask yourself about how you are feeling and why you may be feeling this way. Reflect on things and ask questions that can help you better understand why you responded a certain way. And finally, look for the good in all your feelings. It’s there! I promise!
Meditation: Kids Meditation to Befriend Difficult Emotions
By Beth Kurland
This meditation video, appropriate for children, adolescents, and adults alike, teaches mindfulness skills to help viewers learn to turn towards, and “befriend” difficult emotions such as sadness, anger, frustration, disappointment or anxiety.
Keep in mind, the process used in this lovely video can also be used to “befriend” happy positive emotions as well.
Storytime: My Many Colored Days
By Dr. Seuss Art: Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson
Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what Oh, the Places You’ll Go! does for the human life cycle. This book is a wonderful way for us to talk with children about their feelings.
Think About It
Did you notice the colors that the artists used for each mood in the book? Why do you think they chose those colors? Do you agree with their choices?
Did the characteristics of the animals match the mood well? What about the ways the different animals, birds and dinosaurs moved? Does the way they move help express the mood? How so?
If we say that yellow is a joyful color, would it be helpful to paint a yellow painting if you felt sad? Or if we say green is calming, would it be helpful to walk through a park if you felt anxious?
Expressing Emotions Through Creativity
Think about how our bodies respond to feelings. How do our faces change with each emotion? Have you noticed we make happy, sad and angry sounds? We even breathe certain ways, like gasping when surprised or exhaling heavily when we are frustrated. Can you imagine all the ways our whole bodies move when we are filled with emotion and we jump for joy, shake with fear or stomp away mad.
Drawing Out Your Feelings
MATERIALS:
Paper/ colored pencils/ markers/ pastels/ paints
PROCESS:
Think about how you are feeling today or choose any feeling to explore
Decide what colors best express this feeling.
Draw or paint your feelings using lines, shapes and forms that express your feelings. if your are happy you might use bright colors and bouncy lines. Think about how your body might respond to the feeling and create lines that reflect those movements.
Experiment with different feelings.
Try shifting a negative mood to a positive one by using colors, lines and shapes that express the opposite of what you are feeling. If you are anxious us calming colors and slow gently movements.
Music: Happy
By Pharrell Williams
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m Happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m Happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m Happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
WATCH & LISTEN HERE!!
Affirmation
I HONOR ALL OF MY FEELINGS