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Discomfortability Acceptance 4 minutes · opener

Inner weather report

Adult wording. Show the classroom wording

Card 20 of 52

Put it on the board and read it out. Nothing to prepare.

A wheel of emotions, reading outward from 'I feel' in the centre into named feelings

Illustration by RecipesforWellbeing.org, CC BY-NC 4.0

Open this drawing in the library

For a midwinter check-in, imagine the way you feel right now is a kind of weather, and find one word for it.

Your weather may be fog, drizzle, a storm or unexpected sunshine. There is no right forecast.

When I reach your row, you can offer your word, say "pass", or shake your head, and I will move on.

Listen to the range of weather in the room. We carry on together, with all of it present.

That’s the practice.

Listen for Students may repeat a word they have heard because it feels safer or because it fits. Both are fine.

The skill of holding space. Compassionately witnessing, accepting, and supporting people without judgement.

When have you felt truly held and accepted without judgement? How might offering that same acceptance change your classroom or relationships?

Try the interactive practice on this skill

For a check-in, imagine that the way you feel right now is a kind of weather, and find one word for it.

Your weather may be fog, drizzle, a storm or unexpected sunshine, and there is no preferred forecast.

When it is your turn you can say your word, type it in the chat, say "pass" or stay quiet, and I will move on.

Listen to the range of weather in the group. We carry on together, with all of it present.

That’s the practice.

Watch for anyone who goes very still, tearful or far away. Do not single them out. Offer a break, or speak to them quietly afterwards.

The skill of holding space. Compassionately witnessing, accepting, and supporting people without judgement.

When have you felt truly held and accepted without judgement? How might offering that same acceptance change your classroom or relationships?

Try the interactive practice on this skill

The skill of holding space

Compassionately witnessing, accepting, and supporting people without judgement.

Hear this skill read aloud
Read the whole postTry the interactive practiceReflect on this skill for yourself

Adapting it

Ages 13 to 15
Offer a short spoken list of weather words students can borrow.
Ages 16 to 18
Add "What is the forecast for the next hour?" as a reminder that feelings can change.

If you have longer

There is a full lesson on this skill, about 40 minutes.

Letting people be who they are
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