Finding A Happy Balance

 

ALL feelings matter. Everything we experience is part of what makes us us. Emotions can be messy, complicated, and just plain confusing. Learning to name our emotions and talk about them — by ourself and with others — is a key part of developing our emotional intelligence and well being.

We are human and we will experience every emotion in our lifetime, but we are not our emotions alone, and we do not need to be controlled by our emotions either. Feeling content, good, and positive can happen and being healthy and happy is where our body will feel best and function best. 

We can feel that way every day, regardless of the the many feelings that 

come and go.   Below are a few GREAT strategies for finding your happiness ~

Name It to Tame It is a powerful way to manage our strong emotions. All it requires is noticing and labeling emotions as they’re happening. The act of identifying an intense emotion (“naming”) has the effect of reducing the stress and anxiety (“taming”) in the brain and the body that that emotion is causing.

Practicing mindfulness can also help us feel balanced. It's a reminder to stop and think 🤔 and appreciate all that we are experiencing in that moment. Mindfulness can help us calm our bodies and thoughts. Being more mindful means we can stay focused and in control of our thoughts and feelings. 

Practice Gratitude. Intentionally appreciating the things, people and experiences 

that bring us joy can improve our mood and feelings of happiness.

Remember to breathe deeply. Deep breathing can help relax your body and calm your mind. There are many different ways to practice, try a few fun ones HERE! The less tense you feel, the happier you'll be.

Get Outside! Spending time in nature can be rejuvenating and calming. You can try gardening, walking in the grass, or just sitting and reflecting quietly.

I can be mindful

Stopping, breathing, in and out

Still, calm and peaceful.

Haiku by S Sawyer 

ALL feelings really do matter. Everything we experience is part of what makes us us.  We CAN learn ways to feel more calm and happy and appreciate all that we feel and experience.

Positive Psychology 

Blissful Kids

What Is Your Superpower??

 

Every child (and grown up) is super and special in their own way! We all have different strengths, challenges, and characteristics. The combination of those things is what makes up our super powers. It’s important to embrace these and show the world just how awesome we are!   

It's important for us to understand and appreciate the superpowers of our friends, schoolmates, family and neighbors... and our own too!

We all have abilities, or things we are able to do. Many people also have "disabilities", or things that might difficult or even impossible, to do without support or tools. Sometimes having a challenge to overcome makes us even more powerful~ that's why we prefer to say our different abilities are our superpowers, and not disabilities.

 Do you remember learning 

                        about the word EMPATHY? 

Empathy is being aware of other people's emotions and trying to understand how they feel or think.

Imagine what it might feel like to have a disability 

or a very different superpower. 

How would you like to be treated by the people around you? 

Do you want to learn more? Listen to this great introduction and let's work together to help everyone, with all types of abilities and superpowers, feel welcome and included.

THINK about YOUR strengths and challenges...

what are YOUR superpowers???

Empathy + Compassion =Kindness

 

EMPATHY is being aware of other people's emotions 

                            and trying to understand what they feel or think.

     COMPASSION is a feeling and creates a desire to help.

          KINDNESS is about doing good to others.

We ALL have the power to make our community kind and welcoming if we develop our skills in empathy and act on our compassion.

 

~ LISTEN to what other people say.

~ LOOK for clues to learn what others FEEL.

~ Imagine yourself in the same situation.

~ ASK people what they need 

                  and then help them if you can.

~ What ideas do YOU have for spreading kindness?

It is important to pay attention to our own feelings and manage our own emotions. Sharing our feelings with others helps them to understand who we are and what we need.

EMPATHY is noticing and connecting to how other people feel and sharing ways to help. How does the character in the video clip below show empathy??

The next time you notice someone feeling angry or sad, or excited, practice  EMPATHY. Try to understand how they are feeling and see if you can find a way to help or share their in experience.

Want to learn more about EMPATHY? 

Read books about Empathy and Kindness on EPIC   (class code mte2015)

Listen to these great stories:

                            

Scroll below for more resources:

   
 

Even More Links:
https://startempathy.org/
https://www.tolerance.org/ 

https://www.empathylab.uk/

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/