Loving Yourself

1. Last time, we talked about what love is, what ideas do you remember about what love is?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• Love can be a feeling, family, or friends
• To some people love can be happiness, peace, friendship, joy, and sometimes even yourself
• People show love in different ways, through their actions, words, and loving themselves

2. One of the most important things we can do is love ourselves. What does loving yourself mean?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• Some people believe loving yourself is accepting who you are
• Perhaps loving yourself is believing in who you are
• Loving yourself is knowing that it is okay to make mistakes

3. Why do you think it is important to love yourself?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• Some people think loving yourself can bring joy
• Loving yourself helps you to accept who you are and what you are capable of doing
• Many people believe loving yourself helps you to love others

4. Even though we know that it’s important to love ourselves, it can be hard to know how to do it. What ways do you think you love yourself?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• People can love themselves by thinking nice and positive thoughts
• Many people choose to love themselves by doing things that make them feel good or happy
• A lot of people can love themselves by taking good care of their physical bodies
• Most people can love themselves by spreading their love around to others

5. Like everything else, loving yourself becomes easier with practice. What are some other ways you can practice loving yourself?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the questions]

• Many people practice loving themselves by accepting themselves for who they are
• Some people practice loving themselves by forgiving themselves
• People practice loving themselves by listening to what is in their heads and hearts, such as trying new things or spending time alone

Love Collage

Materials Needed:

• Old Magazines or Newspapers
• Paper or Poster board
• Scissors
• Markers or Crayons

Since our Soul Talk today has been about how we love ourselves, we are going to make a collage that shows the ways in which we love ourselves, then share it with the group.

Directions

Give each kid a piece of paper or poster board, and place a stack of old magazines, newspapers, markers, and/or crayons in the center of the group. Have the kids find or draw images that show all kinds of ways that they know how to love themselves. They can also write their name on the collage, or anything else that would pertain to them and encourage them to love themselves. When everyone is finished, have each kid pick one element of their collage and explain to the group how it represents a way of loving themselves.

[Feel free to play one of our recommended songs while the kids work on their projects]

Now that we have finished our love collages, we have really come to understand what we love about ourselves. Remember that it is SO important for all of us to practice loving ourselves as often as we can. When we remember to love ourselves, we are reminded of how amazing we truly are.

[Invite the group to find a relaxing position, take a mat or towel, if you are working on a hard floor. They may sit or lie down to be comfortable. Speak slightly slower in a soft, soothing tone throughout, pausing briefly between sentences. You may play soft, instrumental music in the background while reading the meditation script]

Welcome to our Meditation Time: the time where we relax and connect to the spirit in and around us. I invite you to sit or lie down and make yourself comfortable. Quietly do that now. [Wait until the group is settled, then read the meditation script] [Optional: Begin music.]

I am going to guide you through our meditation to help you relax. Let’s close our eyes, and let’s start by putting our hands on our bellies, and taking a deep, long breath in. Feel your belly rise as you breathe in – to the count of 1, 2, 3. Then feel your belly fall, as you slowly breathe out – to the count of 1, 2, 3. Now breathe in – 1, 2, 3. And slowly breathe out like a tire losing air – 1, 2, 3. Continue to breathe in and out slowly and steadily. Relax your body into the floor beneath you. Keep breathing.

Loving ourselves is the first step toward loving others. When we love ourselves for the unique beings we are, we can recognize, and love the unique qualities in others. [Pause.] We love ourselves by thinking and speaking positively about ourselves, and by appreciating how amazing we are. We love ourselves by taking good care of our bodies by nourishing them with healthy food and exercise. We love ourselves by being true to ourselves and what we believe, and by doing the best we can do each day. [Pause.] Take a moment now to think to yourself, “I love myself for being the unique person I am. I love me for being me.” [Pause.] Loving yourself frees you to be all you can be. Love dissolves any barriers to your happiness. Love attracts good into your life. Feel that love in the center of your heart. [Pause.]

Now let’s take one more deep breath, and slowly let it out. Now slowly open your eyes and slowly roll to the side and sit up to end our time of meditation.

[Optional: Turn off music] [Optional: Say: Please return your cushion to its starting place]

Closing — Choose One:

Closing Affirmation — Option 1 

Turn to the person to your right, look them in the eye and say “I am happy I could share this time with you and hear about your beliefs.”

 Closing Prayer — Option 2  
The light of god surrounds us
The love of god enfolds us
The power of god protects us
The presence of god watches over us
Wherever we are, god is and all is well!