#system caretaker

☆ Big Feelings in Our Body

Sometimes we feel Big Feelings in different parts of our body—your tummy aches or your chest gets tight or your face gets hot. Where do you feel your Feelings right now? Draw a picture of yourself or your stuffie and color in the parts of your body where you feel your Big Feelings the most. Think about the sorts of ways this Feeling shows up in your body. Is there a lot of energy in your body that needs to come out? Or is your body tired and needs a rest? Why do you think that your Big Feelings might feel differently in your body? What sort of Feeling do you think is making your body feel this way now? Now that you know where your Big Feelings are in your body and what they might be telling you, you can do things to help it feel better. Tea or a small snack can help a tummy ache, or a cool washcloth can help soothe hot, teary eyes. What are some things you can do to help your body feel better? Draw or list some ideas that you can try.

☆ Big Feelings as Art

Some people like to associate their Big Feelings with certain colors, shapes, or things. What colors are your Feelings right now? Draw some shapes or things in that color that also remind you of this Feeling. Think about how this Feeling might change the way you color. Do you scribble or draw neat lines? Do you press your crayon or marker harder or softer? Why do you think that your Big Feelings might change the way you do things? What sort of Feeling do you think is making you color this way now? Now that you know what kinds of art match your Big Feelings and what they might mean, let's think about kinds of art that help you feel better. What colors feel safe to you? On a new page, draw some shapes and things in that color that also feel safe. How has the way you color changed to match what you're drawing now?

☆ Things that Cause Big Feelings

A lot of the time, Big Feelings happen because of something that happened around us to make us feel that way. It can be scary to think about these things, but learning what causes Big Feelings to happen can help you better handle those things in the future. It's alright if you're not sure, though. Recognizing what causes Big Feelings to happen is hard and takes practice. What happened this time that might have caused these Feelings to come up? Was it one big thing or a lot of little things? Why do you think that made you Feel the way you did? Did it remind you of something that happened in the past? Or was it something new that caused bad thoughts? What are some ideas you can do for next time to help keep yourself safe? Are there boundaries you can place or safe people you can tell to help you?

☆ Talking About Big Feelings