This is useful for children and adults alike because we often find ourselves experiencing unhelpful thoughts and sometimes uncomfortable feelings (in my case having a filling near a nerve).
Discomfort in our emotional bodies can be anything from an increased heart-rate, sweaty hands, washing-machine sensations in our stomachs, to a tense tight jaw or shoulders. I’ve heard a school teacher recognise that she ‘tightly grips’ the steering wheel on her way home from school.
Unhelpful thoughts can be fear and future-based thoughts about what COULD go wrong (these can appear as sounds or images in our minds) or even conversations that we may or may not want to have with people.
Both of these, the unhelpful thoughts or emotional discomfort, are signals and signs for us to read and be aware of. Our body and mind is trying to keep us safe in the only way it knows how to.
When we are able to recognise these feelings and thoughts, we then have a choice of how we respond.
Depending on the situation, there are many choices to take. Perhaps you need to talk to someone, move your body, get still in meditation, write things down, say out loud to yourself some of the things that are whirring round your head or in my case at the dentist…divert attention AWAY from the discomfort and into a safer, more comfortable space.
I knew at the dentist, the discomfort was temporary and fleeting – it wouldn’t last. For this reason, I didn’t need to explore and become curious about the sensations or watch the thoughts, I just needed to focus my attention elsewhere. Anchoring myself to a more pleasant experience.
How could this be useful for yourself or your children?
Here are some suggestions of where we can place our attention if we are overwhelmed with thoughts or feelings:
– Wiggle your toes in your shoes and ‘feel’ the sensations
– If outside, focus on the breeze on your skin
– Rub your hands together and feel the warmth generated
– Clap your hands and pay attention to the ‘sting’ sensation as it fades
– Focus on the cold air on the end of your nose as you breath in and out slowly
– Rub your lips together and run your tongue over your teeth placing full attention on how each tooth feels
If you found this practice useful and helpful, please share it with those close to you that may benefit.
Learnful Schools equips and empowers children, teachers and parents with transformational regular mental and emotional and well-being practices. Visit: www.learnful.co.uk/learnful-schools to find out more.
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😊 Jo