| Dave K 2006-02-25, 9:31 pm |
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Max wrote:
> I like to teach a group of chidren how to deal with fear
> and turn the fear into something good.
> Is there anyone that knows how to do it and give me an
> example?
>
> Tia
I would try to teach them to be mindful of their breath, and notice how
it changes when they are afraid.
Thich Nhah Hahn uses a good metaphor in his book on anger (which is
mostly a pretty lousy book) that might work well for children.
When you are angry or afraid you tend to breath high in your chest.
When you're relaxed you're breathing lower in the belly. The metaphor
Thich uses is that of a tree... If there's a storm blowing the tree
around, the tree survives because of it's strong trunk and roots. For
people this is in the belly. If you keep your breath lower you'll have
a strong trunk, strong roots, and you'll be able to withstand the
"storms" of fear, anger, etc.
I will try to remember when I go home to get the exact quote from the
book.
I wish somebody had taught me this stuff when I was a kid. It takes so
many years to weed out all the neuroses we accumulate into adulthood.
If you can teach them about making physiology changes to "stay cool"
you will really give them something for life.
-Dave K
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