Reflection Sunday The 3rd November 2024

- From My Guide Inside

1. MGI Book II Wheels of Learning Keep on Turning

Come on along:
Learn to recognize your state of mind. Know it by the feeling you are in.
When you focus attention, you will be aware of changes in your feelings.
This means you are naturally listening to your guide inside.
Helpful insights improve your feelings and natural motivation.

2. What do you think? Let’s talk about it…
“Sometimes it was only their thoughts that were making them unhappy and if they could understand…it would help make them feel well.” (Dear Liza)
How is this story like something you know?
Think of a time that you noticed your wheels of learning really turning.

3. Twinkle knows…
Sometimes it is only your thoughts that make you unhappy.
My guide inside helps me decide!
It is best to let the mind clear when you are confused.
Happiness is inside every one of us and keeps popping up.
Trust common sense.
Learning is easier when you feel joy in life.
     …Now you know, too!

4. Learn Power Words.

Make a story using these powerful words
confused-not clear
decision-a choice
grateful-feeling thanks
ignore-do nothing
welcoming-kind

5. Review Points of MGI Book II.
Explain how much you have discovered about yourself!
   
Your guide inside is always present. (aka, wisdom, intuition)
Thought is a gift and we have the choice of which thoughts to act on.
Insights help us know ourselves and understand our world.
   
Understanding thought and using insights makes life fun.   

Note: MGI Online is a school well-being curriculum that aligns with our work at My Good School and helps us focus on life skills.

- From My Name Is Cinnamon-

1. What was your takeaway from today's session?
2. Is it good to hide from everyone to gain attention?
3. How will you help your friend who feels insecure?
4. Explain the aftermath of criticism.
5 Which was the best birthday gift you have received so far?
6. Which cuisine you would love to eat and why?
7. What will you do to help your parents if they are having a financial crisis?. 

These are some suggestions you can choose from. Looking forward to seeing your wonderful and thoughtful reflections! You can email your reflections to - mk@learningforward.org.in

Key Takeaways

• Cinnamon struggles with his identity as an adopted child when faced with not getting a new bike due to financial constraints.
• The importance of critical thinking and examining one's thoughts objectively was highlighted.
• Friends play a crucial role in providing honest feedback and support during challenging times.
• Gratitude and reflection were emphasized as tools for personal growth and perspective.

Topics

Story Discussion: Cinnamon's Bike Request

• Cinnamon misinterpreted his parents' response to his bike request, assuming he would get it despite financial constraints.
• The story explores the impact of assumptions and communication gaps between children and parents.
• Participants discussed the importance of clear communication and managing expectations.

Adoption and Identity

• Cinnamon's struggle with his adopted status intensified when he couldn't get the bike he wanted.
• The story highlights how external factors (like not getting a desired item) can trigger deeper identity issues.
• Participants explored Cinnamon's emotional journey and the importance of addressing adoption-related feelings openly.

Financial Literacy and Empathy

• The story introduces concepts of financial constraints and cost-cutting measures within families.
• Participants discussed the importance of children understanding family financial situations.
• Empathy towards parents' financial decisions was highlighted as a key learning point.

Friendship and Peer Influence

• The role of friends like Pally (offering honest feedback) and Sundar (negative influence) was analysed.
• Participants discussed the importance of choosing friends wisely and handling negative peer interactions.

Emotional Regulation and Critical Thinking

• Cinnamon's spiral into negative thoughts was examined as a cautionary tale.
• The importance of stepping back and examining thoughts objectively was emphasised.
• Gratitude was suggested as a tool for maintaining perspective during challenging times.

Next Steps

• Participants are encouraged to write reflections on the story and share them.
• Students should prepare for the upcoming retreat, which promises fun activities and surprises.
• Continue reading the next chapters of "My Name is Cinnamon" for further discussion.
• Apply lessons learned about critical thinking and gratitude in daily life.

Tribute to Parents- Shambhavi Nautiyal

How can you give tribute to your parents?

I tell my mother that I love her at least eight times a day and try to act as infantile as I try not to hurt her feelings and, in its truest sense, make her feel happy. Ever since my infancy, the dynamic has been like that, and I can never ignore how her face brightens. That’s maybe the reason I am not able to implement my emotional maturity with her because I still feel like I’m five and, so I’m not able to act my actual age until we have some ‘grown-up talk’ because I don’t feel like a thing has changed between me and her and, I hope that she can constructively share her experiences in the future so that I can view her as a rational adult willing enough to understand me and forgive me in the best way that she can.

To pay tribute to your parents, you can write letters of admiration for them, maybe like a ‘Thank You Letter’.  I'm going to be doing this for this 'Mother’s Day'.  It is on occasions like this when I feel like I can be inherently open about my feelings without the fear of getting roasted or hit by the reality of the nature of my conduct towards my mother. I don't feel shy about speaking sweetly to my parents, and I feel like that as that’s how I have been wired by the media I consume.

I am pretty bad at the respect part, I believe, because my parents keep telling me that and this is probably the first time I am mentioning my ‘darker side’ or mistakes in one of these blogs. What I have focused till now is more on the flaws of my parent’s parenting skills, and I have also recently discovered that I have had the ‘perfectionist syndrome’ in some way because I used to think of things as black and white, so I couldn’t bring myself to love and forgive both mine and others’ mistakes.

So now I just want to say to my parents, “I am so proud to be your daughter, both of you, equally and  I think I realise your true value and role in my life journey and mindset” because I don’t know when or if I would ever be able to say this to their face, because you know it’s easier with friends because they only show their best side to you but with family, it’s different. You know each other inside-out and if you’re able to love each other unconditionally despite that, then you are gold and the luckiest person on earth with one of the best subconscious minds and emotional patterns.

There is conflict in families only when, one of the members isn’t able to accept, forgive and love the other member’s mistakes and starts shaming them for being an irresponsible human, which sometimes may also be unfeasible which is why you should always do the inner work and healing so that you don’t create an unhealthy environment for others.

According to me, if the toxic member happens to be you, then question yourself, if their mistake is something changeable. If yes, immediately call out your toxic behaviour and remind yourself that it’s okay to be human and commit mistakes. Never make someone hate themselves to the degree that they can’t ignore it anymore. Also, if you want to get tribute then you need to make yourself worthy of it first, whether child or parent, don’t make your behaviours nullify all the formal work that you do, especially, to the point, that your child or parent, isn’t able to remember all your good efforts.

First, learn to love yourself and then propagate it to others because it all starts from the self if you ever want to become a parent, keep questioning yourself- Would you want your child to go through something you're going through at the moment? And to the person who observes this kind of ‘behaviour’, first, acknowledge what’s happening to you and then slowly start empathizing with the other member, be the bigger person and forgive them. Kill them with kindness and it shall all come back to you. Just try maintaining that abundance mindset and pay your tribute.

Shambhavi Nautiyal

Ahlcon Public School

Grade- IX

My Experiments with Self-Awareness - Anvesha Rana

From daily news to new trends, the weather forecast to the match score, we know so many things just because they are happening around us; we love to be up to date. However, amidst gathering this information, we get so distracted that we must remember to collect ourselves or ask ourselves what is happening within us? 

Self-awareness is to know, share, ask, or be aware of oneself. Strangely, the person we have been since time immemorial is also the person we know the least about; most of the time, other people know more about us than we do about ourselves! Yes, and as an exercise, ask your friends about what you like; I am sure they will get it right. 

So, self-awareness is vital as you need to know who you are and be clear about what you like or dislike. Self-awareness is a gradual process, though it is believed to be an innate ability that vanishes growing up. Thus, we need to constantly experiment to regain ours. 

Whenever we get lost in a discussion, we should ask ourselves, is this really important? Would I like to be a part of this? Moreover, we must decide about numerous things daily and sometimes need help with choices. Consequently, we should learn to recognise and observe our choices and decipher the pattern. This code or pattern is our approach to problem-solving that sums up the kind of person we are. 

To be more self-aware, we should spend time alone with our thoughts in our head; it’s good to head out, but sometimes, to seek answers to deep questions, it’s okay to run in. Being the observer of our lives also means observing or influencing our thoughts. Being the observer is being in the position of power, i.e. we are not guided by the current flow in the ocean, but we decide where the current shall flow. It may be difficult initially, but once we start to love our own company, that is the self-awareness threshold.
Anvesha Rana
Grade 11
Gyanshree School