Safe Mind

1. What do you think having a safe mind means?

 [Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

Having a safe mind means our thoughts feel clear and we are aware of what we are thinking and why

Having a safe mind means you can figure out what is real and true and what is not and you can protect yourself accordingly

Having a safe mind means recognizing that the things you are feeling are valid and then focusing so you can understand why you are feeling that way. Then you can let go of the thoughts that are harming you and hold on to the thoughts that help

2. What are some ways you can help your mind be safe?

 [Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

You are the best protector of your mind. You know the things that keep it safe. Maybe you watched a movie or saw something online that gave you nightmares, and after that, you steered yourself away from those things until you were ready. This is how we set a boundary

You can keep your mind safe, by paying attention to those moments of intuition. Intuition is when your brain sends your body little messages or feelings letting you know when something is safe or unsafe. Sometimes those messages are very loud and sometimes they are quiet. Whether they are soft or noisy, it is important to listen to them

If you are having a hard time shifting your mind away from hurtful thoughts and into helpful ones, check in with a trusted grownup, friend, or doctor about what you’re thinking or feeling

3. Why do you think it is important to protect our minds?

[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

It can be very easy to get stuck in a space of sadness or anger. Those are big emotions that are often hard to move on from. When you protect your mind, you may still feel those things, but you also know how to shift your mind away from them. You are giving space to those valid emotions while also creating more space for the thoughts that help you move on and heal. This is how we set boundaries

When you protect your mind or thoughts, you are taking the time to figure out what is true or real and what is untrue or not real

Protecting your mind from harmful thoughts helps you have a happier life.

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[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 put a cushion on the floor, and to sit cross-legged, with a

nice tall back and your hands relaxed in your lap. Quietly do that now, as we begin our

meditation.  [Wait until the group is settled, then read the meditation script.]

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.

Staying safe means being protected from harm. Even if a house has a strong foundation

and sturdy walls, without a roof, it won't be able to keep rain, snow, and strong wind

away from our rooms. It wouldn't protect all the memories that we save in our attic.  

We'd be so hot during the day, and cold during the night.  The roof acts like the helmet

that we wear when we ride a bike.  It keeps us from harm.  [Pause.] Your mind is like

the roof of your home.  Your mind protects you from the harsh weather of life.  No matter

what is happening around you, your mind acts as a loyal guard of your feelings, your

ideas, and your body.  Your mind helps you create strong boundaries [Pause.]  

Boundaries are the protections that we set up around us.  We make sure that we

respect our bodies, and that others do, too.  We say "no" when something doesn't feel

right to us.  We listen to how we're feeling and we make decisions for ourselves, based

on what is right for us. We don't just follow the crowd.  [Pause.]  Do you have an attic

where you live, or have you ever seen an attic?  That's the storage space right under

the roof.  Some attics get jammed with all kinds of stuff -- some precious things, some

useful things, and maybe some piles of junk.  Your mind is like an attic.  What thoughts

are you keeping in your mind?  Things that are precious?  Things that are useful?  Or a

pile of junky negative and harmful thoughts? Take a moment now to think of what you're

keeping in your mind attic. [Long Pause.] So what did you discover?  Is your mind being

a good guard for you?  It is keeping you and your thoughts safe, and helping you make

good decisions?  Or is your mind like a leaky roof that is letting bad weather come in

and ruining your precious possessions?  [Pause.]  A safe mind is one that keeps you

healthy, happy, and strong. It keeps you safe by helping you make the best decisions in

every situation.  Your mind is a wonderful protector!

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]

Your Safe House- Safe Mind      

Directions:

For our second session, we talked about Safe Minds and what a safe mind is. For this activity, the part of the house that represents your safe mind is going to be the attic or roof of the house. What does the roof of your house look like? It is going to want to protect you from the elements - just like your mind can protects you- helping you to consider what thoughts feel good and what thoughts don’t.

Materials Needed:

• Paper- if possible, a large piece of paper could be really fun to work on

• Markers, Crayons, Pencils or whatever utensil your child enjoys

Just like only you can decide what feels safe for your body, you are also in control of what feels safe for your mind. In the last session, we talked about how you get to choose who comes into your house and who does not. You also get to decide what thoughts are allowed to stay in your mind (or attic of your home.)

Sometimes it feels like our minds have a built in sensor- helping us to decide if something feels good or not- this is one of the ways our minds protect our bodies. It is one of the many ways we form boundaries.

Even though we have control over what thoughts stay and what thoughts go- it can at times feel like we have little or no control at all- and this can feel very difficult. In times when this happens, it is okay to acknowledge those thoughts or feelings, to learn what they are so you can recognize them next time they knock on the door of your attic, and then (lovingly) open a window and set them free.

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!