Myths About Thoughts
True or False: If a thought pops into your head, like “I’m the worst at math,” it means it’s definitely true.
❌ False! Just because your brain says something doesn’t mean it’s right. Thoughts can be tricksters!
What happens when you shake a snow globe?
A) It plays music
B) The snowflakes swirl everywhere
C) It starts to glow
✅ B! The snowflakes swirl everywhere—just like your thoughts when they feel busy and wild! But you can let them settle by taking a deep breath.
True or False: Some emotions are “bad” and you should try to get rid of them.
❌ False! Emotions are like weather—sunny, rainy, stormy. None are “bad,” they just come and go!
Your Inner Critic says: “You always mess up.”
How can you flip this into an Inner Coach voice?
💬 “It’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone messes up sometimes—what can I learn from this?”
🔄 The Inner Coach reminds you you’re still learning and growing!
Why did the math book look sad?
Because it had too many problems!
True or False: You can notice a thought and let it float away, like a cloud or a bubble in the sky.
✅ True! You don’t have to grab every thought—some can just drift by.
What does it mean to “notice” a thought like a snowflake, but not let it take over your mind?
A) You try to crush it with your brain power
B) You shout at it to leave you alone
C) You say, “Hey, that’s just a thought!” and let it float by like a snowflake in a snow globe
✅ Answer: C! You don’t have to fight the thought or pretend it’s not there. You can name it—like, “Oh, there’s the ‘I might mess up’ thought!”—then let it float by like a snowflake. Thoughts come and go—they don’t have to be the boss of you!
True or False:
Resilience is like a rubber band—it means you can stretch, bounce back, and keep going even after hard stuff happens.
✅ True!
Just like a rubber band stretches and snaps back into shape, resilience means you can go through tough times and still bounce back, grow, and keep trying!
How can your Inner Critic affect your feelings and actions if you listen to it all the time?
😟 It can make you feel sad, small, or scared to try new things. You might give up or not even start!
✅ But listening to your Inner Coach helps you feel more brave, hopeful, and ready to try again.
I go up but never come down. What am I?
🎈 Your age!
True or False: If you think something scary, like “What if I mess up?”, it means something bad will happen.
❌ False! Scary thoughts are just your brain playing the “what if” game—they don’t predict the future!
What’s a fun way to talk back to an unhelpful thought?
A) Yell at it really loud
B) Pretend it’s a grumpy cat
C) Say it in a silly voice like a robot or pirate
✅ C! Saying it in a silly voice takes away its power and reminds you it’s just a thought, not a big boss!
True or False: You can feel nervous and still do something brave.
✅ True! You can carry your nervous feelings with you and still do the thing that matters to you—like being a courage superhero!
Turn this Inner Critic thought into an Inner Coach thought:
“Nobody likes me.”
💔 Inner Critic: “Nobody likes me.”
💖 Inner Coach: “Some people might not understand me, but there are people who care. I can keep being kind and finding my people.”
What kind of room has no doors or windows?
🍄 A mushroom!
True or False: Everyone has strange, silly, or mean thoughts sometimes, and that’s totally normal.
✅ True! Even superheroes and teachers have weird thoughts. That doesn’t make them bad people!
If your thoughts are swirling like snowflakes in a snow globe, what’s something you can do to calm them down and not get stuck in them?
A) Pretend they’re not there and hope they go away
B) Label the thought like “the I’ll mess up again thought,” ask if it’s helpful, then take a deep breath or say it in a silly voice
C) Try to catch all the snowflakes before they fall
✅ B! You can notice and name your thought—like “there’s the ‘I’ll mess up again’ thought.” Then ask yourself, “Is this helpful or unhelpful?” If it’s unhelpful, take a deep breath or say it in a silly voice like a robot or a chicken to help it float by! You don’t need to chase or hide from it.
True or False: Values are like your personal treasure map—they help you choose your path.
✅ True! Values are the things that matter most to your heart—like being kind or trying your best. They help you decide where to go.
What can you do when you notice your Inner Critic showing up? How will that change what you do next?
🔍 Step 1: Notice it—“Oh, that’s my Inner Critic!”
🗣 Step 2: Take a breath.
🧠 Step 3: Say something your Inner Coach would say instead.
I’m full of holes, but I still hold water. What am I?
🧽 A sponge!
True or False: If you try really hard to shove a thought away, it’ll disappear forever like magic.
❌ False! Trying to push a thought away is like trying to hold a beach ball underwater—it takes a lot of effort, and it always pops back up! Instead, it’s easier to just notice the thought, like watching a snowflake float by, and let it be without a big struggle.
How does saying a thought in a funny voice help you?
A) It makes the thought go away forever
B) It helps you laugh and realize it’s just a thought
C) It makes the thought come back louder
✅ B! It helps you laugh a little and remember that it’s just a thought—not something you have to believe.
True or False: If you have a yucky thought or feeling, it means something is wrong with you.
❌ False! Everyone has tough thoughts and feelings—it means you're human! You can notice them and still keep going.
Why is it helpful to practice being your own Inner Coach instead of letting your Inner Critic be the boss?
💪 Your Inner Coach helps you grow, try new things, and feel proud—even when things are hard!
🚫 If your Inner Critic is always the boss, it can make you feel stuck or scared to try. Switching to your Inner Coach helps you move forward with courage.
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
🐻 A gummy bear!