Origins Curriculum Meditation For Kids: I Am Human

This meditation is a practice that can build empathy.

Some or many of these I am statements may not be true for you,

But they may be true for others.

This meditation is one way that we can practice empathy by experiencing what it feels like to speak someone else's truth,

Even if it is not our own,

And to respect our similarities and differences that make us human.

Please feel free to just follow along and listen to the meditation.

You are not required to repeat after me to benefit from this experience.

This may be unfamiliar and foreign and that's okay.

If you don't understand something,

Please feel free to pause the meditation and define a word or even take additional time to process the experience.

If this is not something that you're open to or that resonates with you,

Please feel free to skip it and move on to another meditation.

Sometimes the uncomfortable experiences in our lives can be the most full of growth and quite possibly even life-changing.

Welcome to Origins Curriculum Guided Meditation.

We are so glad you are here.

Before we begin,

We invite you to find a quiet space to settle your body.

We suggest a space that is peaceful and grounding,

One that creates a calming environment.

After we have found a comfortable space,

We sit and allow our minds to slow down and our bodies to find a rhythm with our breath.

We inhale through our nose and exhale through our mouth.

We take some time to tune in with ourselves,

Relaxing our legs,

Our arms and shoulders,

Our neck,

Face,

Jaw,

And forehead,

Releasing further with each breath.

This week,

We will explore what it means to be human and practice empathy through vocalization and stating the phrase,

I am,

Followed with a different attribute,

Characteristic,

Or means of identification.

Towards the end,

We will shift to the statement,

We are,

Moving away from the separateness of I to the connectedness of we.

The goal of this practice is to build empathy and gain experience in what it feels like to speak the words that others have,

To be vulnerable and share ourselves as we navigate and explore what it means to be human.

Let's begin our practice.

If possible,

Practice with a small group or with a partner.

This allows for a different I am and we are statements to be generated as well as build stronger relationships and empathy with your class,

Group,

Or partner.

We'll go around taking turns to state things about ourselves and share how we identify or see ourselves through I am statements.

For example,

The first person would begin and could say things like,

I am a female,

Or I am Hispanic or Latina,

Or I am deaf,

Or I am a brother,

Or I am brave because.

We can share whatever we're comfortable with.

Then the others in the group will repeat the same thing,

Even if they themselves do not identify as such.

If you need guidance or assistance in creating I am or we are statements,

Please be sure to find an adult or ask someone close to you.

You can pause this meditation and practice,

Or you can do it alongside me.

This practice is a way to build understanding and empathy,

And it can reveal what it feels like or takes to say those words and share our true selves with each other.

Maybe it shows us how uncomfortable it can feel and the bravery that it may take to state,

I am.

If you do not have a partner or a group,

You can follow along with me.

If you do have others to practice with,

Then you can pause this meditation and proceed.

Once you have finished as a group or with a partner,

You can end the meditation or you can listen along here together.

Let's reground ourselves as we notice our body and where it touches the surfaces that we sit or rest upon.

We notice the weight of our body and the rise and fall of our chests as we breathe.

We relax our shoulders,

Necks,

And faces,

And we find our hands in our laps,

Resting on our thighs or with our palms facing up.

We gently close our eyes and repeat the following,

I am phrases.

Please repeat after me.

I am a human.

I am a seeker.

I am a student.

I am a survivor.

I am an immigrant.

I am intelligent.

I am an artist.

I am an athlete.

I am a cook.

I am a parent.

I am a teacher.

I am weird.

I am a clown.

I am a healer.

I am a musician.

I am a scientist.

I am an explorer.

I am a hero.

I am a bully.

I am a friend.

I am a protector.

I am nothing.

I am everything.

I am selfish.

I am angry.

I am scared.

I am funny.

I am strong.

I am non-binary.

I am loving and kind.

I am a human of color.

I am trans.

I am a child of the stars.

I am brave because I choose to be my most authentic self.

We are history.

We are change makers.

We are innovators.

We are caring.

We are powerful.

We are creators.

We are unique.

We are inspiring.

We are confident.

We are grateful.

We are stewards of the earth.

We are the world.

We are brave because we choose to be our most authentic selves.

We may not identify with all of these labels,

But we can show empathy for the bravery it takes for each of us to shine and be our true selves.

To conclude our meditation,

We'll place a hand on our hearts and a hand on our bellies and breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.

With a grateful and open heart,

We can continue with our day.

Namaste.

The light in me sees the light in you.

We thank you for meditating with us.

Namaste.

You