Safety & Person-Centered Focus
Check-In with everyone
Hello all! How are you feeling today?
What is PROCESSING?
A process is a series of actions you do to something to make it more useful or desirable. When we process our feelings, we think and talk about them so that the negative effects of them are less. It can help us find meaning in them, accept them more fully, and let them move through us instead of getting stuck and feeling bad longer than we need to.
In your group discuss whether or not you want to do some casual processing. If some do and others don't discuss whether or not to skip the activity or have the people who don't want to, take a break. The activity should be done with consensus of the group.
The following is practice for casual processing we can do with friends and family. There is deeper processing you can do with a mental health professional. If you feel very bad or very stuck you can ask for counseling.
Using the steps below you can share if you want to. Each person can take 1-3 minutes to respond to the prompts they want to. We should not interrupt each other but just give affirmation.
- Name the feelings you are having - there are many names for feelings. Try to identify the main 1 or 2 that are really strong inside you
- Say "Even though I have these strong feelings of ____________, I love and accept myself as I am in this moment." -- other participants can affirm your feelings and let you know that it is OK to have any feeling you are having
- Check for incorrect self-talk. What is your brain telling you about the fires? Correct your brain if it's going down one of these mistaken paths.
- Either/Or thinking: "It's ALL terrible. There's nothing good." -- almost everything we experience is a mixture of good and bad--EXAMPLE: Evacuations are scary but we have firefighters and helpers getting people to safety zones.
- Fortune telling: "People were evacuated so the area will burn." No one knows the future and predicting tragedy doesn't make us more prepared, but it does make us feel worse. Remember we don't know the future and it will probably have some very good things in with any bad.
- Saying one thing is the same for everything: "One building couldn't be saved so none can be." This is not logical but our brains can think this way when we are stressed. Noticing illogical thoughts can help us get a grip.
- Ignoring everything but the bad news: "The whole state of California is on fire!" It isn't. Most of the state is NOT burning. The fires are an emergency but most of the state is safe.
- Emotions as facts: "I feel scared and nervous so the world must be falling apart." Feelings are information about US, not the world outside of us. A situation can stimulate emotions, but emotions are the weather inside of us, not the situation we are in. And weather, and feelings, always change eventually.
<Body Break>
Drink some water. Emotional processing can be dehydrating.
Tomorrow’s Show and Share:
How are your personal goals helping you contribute to your community?
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PRESENTERS: an * (asterisk) will mean that link goes to a file that people should also have had delivered in their packets. Different programs and districts may make different decisions about what to send. You can lead the group through the online objects and have them follow along on paper at home as appropriate.
High Priority Vocabulary
*Month Search Cross Word Puzzle*
Using the cross-word puzzle provided, fill in the boxes with the with correct letters that correspond with the Across List and Down List below the cross-word puzzle.
Hint: Remember the word rule card from last week's packet? Use this as a tool to help you complete the activity.
<Body Break>
Taking Breaks often is good for the soul!
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**A copy of the story was sent home**
In this story, a young man is upset to hear his doctor prescribe exercise. The young man secretly begins exercising so that his family doesn’t know what the doctor said.
Read the full story today or read half and finish up tomorrow. Make sure to review the questions at the end of the story.
PRESENTERS: Read aloud with your group, or have some readers help. When reading aloud exaggerate tone and emotion somewhat to increase engagement.
Stop reading a few times to prompt participants to VISUALIZE what the words describe. This is an important part of learning to read well which is often challenging.
Button at the bottom comes back to this page.
<Body Break>
Move that body, get up stretch and drink water!
Thematic Connection
Looking good and feeling our very best is important! Our morning routines may include applying some cologne, perfume or body spray, which might make us feel like super models! We can’t forget deodorant!
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Activity: Together as a group review the procedure cards for Applying Deodorant. You can take turns describing each step and stop to help answer any questions.
**Applying Deodorant Procedure Card**
Note: The Procedure Card may have been missplaced in the take home packet under tomorrow's Date. Please use it for today's lesson, as tomorrow it is not mentioned.
After you have reviewed the card as a group, focus on the image in box #10 and prompt the questions below. (Presenters you can zoom in to enlarge this image, make sure to describe what's in the image to help others feel included in this lesson.)
1. What types of deodorant are shown in this image?
2. What other types of deodorant are missing from this image?
Bonus: How It's Made Video
Watch the deodorant making process if you're interested.
<Body Break>
Taking Breaks often is good for the soul!
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Further the Discussion
Did you know that many deodorants contain hidden chemicals?
Here is a list of some common chemicals found in deodorants and antiperspirants:
- Parabens
- Triclosan
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Aluminum
Have you checked out back of your deodorant? Go grab it and let us know if you see one or more of the above on your deodorant label. Staff feel encouraged to do this too!
Discussion: Do you prefer certain deodorants because of how easy it is to use?
Survey Time: Let's take a poll! Use the raise hand option answer the questions you want to answer.
- Does everyone use deoderant every day?
- Do you?
- Raise hand if you use a spray
- Raise hand if you use a stick
- Raise hand if you use a roll-on
- Raise hand if you use none
Critical Thinking: If for some reason you were unable to apply deodorant independently, who would you ask for help?
- Would you ask your pet?
- Would you ask a friend?
- A relative?
- Who would you ask?
What Did We Learn Today?
