Adjusting to Change with Anna
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
A favorite back-to-school lesson for school counselors
Sharing an emotion with someone forms an immediate bond and helps you feel less alone. Children feel this way when they meet Adjusting Anna, one of the first documented Powerful You Kids. Her personal story and portrait opens the door to further discussion about managing life changes and emotions. When you feel like your life does a flip flop, check-in with yourself. How are you feeling emotionally and physically? How are you breathing? Coloring emotions with crayons, colored pencils, or paint is a safe way for children to express themselves. Use the below tool to check-in with yourself or a child.
Feeling Clouds Check-In Tool - Label and rate emotions with colorful clouds.
Label and rate emotions by using the Feeling Clouds Check-In Tool with Adjusting Anna from Powerful You
Today, Anna will teach you how to label and rate your feelings by using feelings clouds. Feeling clouds provides a nonverbal and safe way for you to communicate your thoughts and feelings, especially when words may feel intimidating. Anna’s empowering self talk is:
I adjust to change.
Let’s take a couple consious breaths and imagine your feelings to be like clouds. All clouds are okay. Clouds change, move, and float over you. Some clouds are big and some are small. Some clouds are strong and dark. Other clouds are fluffy and gentle. You must experience all clouds to have a rich life.
Grab your crayons to name clouds according to an emotion you have experienced. For example, red is anger; blue is sadness; green is jealousy; orange is worry; purple is pride; black is frustration or disappointment; and yellow is happy. You might use a combination of colors to show confusion.
Make clouds on the paper to label and rate a current emotion. A BIG, STRONG feeling is represented by a large cloud that takes up the entire space of your paper. Little clouds can name smaller feelings. Use the back of the paper to journal around the cause of any BIG feelings.
After expressing yourself with art, read the Powerful You lesson A story, Adjusting Anna. Anna will express how she felt during a family change. Reflect with classmates or friends by using the journaling prompts.