20_Positive and Negative Self-Talk

The brain is like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positive ones —Rick HansonBig Ideas For This Lesson Positive and Negative Self-Talk At Home Resources Level: Lower Elementary (K-2) Concepts: • Mindfulness • Negative Self-Talk • Positive Self Talk“Teflon & Velcro” is referring to the brains’ negativity bias - an evolutionary throwback that meansour brains are hardwired to remember negative experiences and quickly forget positive experienc-es. While this once kept us alive, in modern times it is more often just a source of anxiety, irritabil-ity, and sadness. Research suggests that it takes five positive interactions to make up for a singlenegative interaction in a relationship; the same is true of self- talk. This means we need a conscious,active process of taking in the positive (something like mindfulness) in order to make up for ourbrains negative wiring. Essential VocabularyHardwired: A genetically determined trait or quality that is the result of permanent connections in the brain.Negative: Undesirable, unwanted, unpleasant; the opposite of positive.Positive: Desirable, wanted, pleasant; the opposite of negative.Simile: A figure of speech used to compare two dissimilar things by using the words like or as (e.g., “A voice like anangel” or “A night as black as coal.”).Taking in the Positive: A term coined by neuroscientist Dr. Rick Hanson to describe the process of pausing to notice,enjoy, and remember positive experiences, and allowing them to “sink in.” This is a form of mindfulness practice and isused to counteract the brain’s negativity bias.Teflon: A non-stick material; used in this context to describe the brain’s tendency to easily forget positive experiences.Velcro: A sticky material; used in this context to describe the brain’s tendency to overemphasize negative experiences.© 2018 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 1 of 2 All rights reserved.

POSITIVE & NEGATIVE SELF-TALK | GRADES K-2 PracticeHave a discussion with your student about a time they were able to change their negative self-talk to positiveself-talk. Then, help them respond to the following prompt:Use pictures and words to tell about a time when you “unstuck” a negative thought by thinking positivethoughts. Make sure to draw or tell the events in order, using details about what happened, and telling your re-action about how you felt when you were able to let go of the negative thoughts and think of positive thoughtsinstead.Bonus: As a logical consequence for teasing or name-calling, consider prompting your student to share five pos-itive statements for every negative statement that say about someone else. Student Resources• All in a Day (Picture Book) by Cynthia Rylant• Be Positive! A Book About Optimism (Picture Book) by Cheri J. Meiners• Chicken Little (Picture Book) by Parragon Books Ltd.• P ositive Thinking For Kids: Helping Children to Have a Positive Mental Attitude and Strong Inner Confidence (Informational Text) by Anne Marshall• The Carrot Seed (Picture Book) by Ruth Krauss• The Energy Bus for Kids: A Story about Staying Positive and Overcoming Challenges (Informational Text) by Jon Gordon • The Little Engine (Picture Book) That Could by Watty Piper Adult Resources• Do Positive Experiences “Stick to Your Ribs? ” Why? (Blog–Rick Hanson)• How the Power of Positive Thinking Won Scientific Credibility (Article– The Atlantic)• Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress (Blog–Mayo Clinic)• The Greater Good Science Center Resources on Happiness (Website)• The Power of Positive Thinking (Blog – John Hopkin’s Medicine) © 2017 Empowering Education, Inc. PAGE 2 of 2 All rights reserved.