Serenity the Snowy Owl,
Episode 6,
Dealing with Anxiety.
Hello my lovely snugglebugs,
It's your friend Serenity the Snowy Owl,
Here to share another special story with you tonight.
This story is about dealing with anxiety and finding calm inside ourselves.
Are you ready?
Let's begin.
In our magical forest there lives a squirrel named Sophie.
Sophie loves to gather acorns and play with her friends,
But sometimes she feels worried and anxious about things.
One day Sophie was supposed to give a small talk at the forest friends meeting.
She practised and practised,
But as the day got closer she felt more and more worried.
Her tummy felt funny and her heart beat fast.
She was scared she would forget what to say or that everyone would laugh at her.
Seeing Sophie's worried face,
I flew down to sit beside her.
What's wrong Sophie?
I asked gently.
Oh Serenity,
Sophie said,
I have to speak at the forest friends meeting,
But I'm so scared.
What if I mess up?
What if everyone laughs at me?
I wrapped my soft wings around Sophie and said,
It's ok to feel scared Sophie.
Everyone feels that way sometimes,
But I can teach you a special way to help you feel calm and brave.
It's called mindfulness.
Mindfulness?
Sophie asked,
Tilting her head curiously.
Yes,
I nodded.
Mindfulness means paying attention to what is happening right now without worrying about what might happen.
Let's practice it together.
I guided Sophie to sit comfortably and take a deep breath in and let it out slowly.
Close your eyes Sophie and listen to the sounds around you.
Can you hear the birds singing and the leaves rustling in the wind?
Sophie closed her eyes and listened carefully.
She nodded,
A small smile forming on her face.
Now I continued,
Feel the ground beneath you.
It's steady and strong,
Just like you.
Take another deep breath in and feel the air fill your lungs,
Then let it out slowly.
When you focus on your breathing,
It helps your mind to calm down.
Sophie took a deep breath,
Feeling the air fill her lungs and then let it out slowly.
She did this a few times and began to feel more relaxed.
Good job Sophie,
I said with a smile.
Whenever you feel anxious,
You can use this mindfulness exercise to help you feel calm.
Remember,
It's okay to feel scared,
But you are stronger than you think and you can handle whatever comes your way.
Sophie practiced her breathing and listened to the forest sounds.
On the day of the meeting,
She felt nervous,
But remembered to breathe and focus on the present moment.
When it was her turn to speak,
She took a deep breath and began.
She spoke clearly and confidently and her friends clapped and cheered for her.
After the meeting,
Sophie came to see me,
Her eyes shining with happiness.
Thank you Serenity,
She said.
The mindfulness exercise really helped me feel calm and brave.
I smiled and hugged Sophie with my wings.
I'm so proud of you Sophie.
Remember,
Whenever you feel anxious,
You can always use mindfulness to help you feel better.
Mindfulness Meditation Now Snugglebugs,
Let's take a moment to practice mindfulness together.
Sit comfortably,
Close your eyes if you like and take a deep breath in and let it out slowly.
Listen to the sounds around you.
Maybe you can hear the soft hum of your house,
The chirping of crickets or the rustling of leaves.
Feel the ground or bed beneath you.
It's steady and strong,
Just like you.
Take another deep breath in,
Feeling the air fill your lungs and let it out slowly.
As you breathe,
Focus on the feeling of the air going in and out.
If you feel any worries or fears,
Imagine them floating away like little clouds.
Leaving you feeling calm and peaceful.
Remember,
You can always use this mindfulness exercise whenever you feel anxious.
It helps you to stay in the present moment and find your inner calm.
Good night Snugglebugs,
May your dreams be filled with magic and peace.
Remember to always breathe and be mindful whenever you feel anxious.
You are strong and you can handle anything.
Sleep tight my dear ones and always know that you are safe and loved.
Until the next time,
Sweet dreams.
