Understanding Feelings
True or False: You can always tell how someone feels by looking at their face.
False. Sometimes people hide their feelings or show them in different ways.
What’s one reason a fight might happen between friends even if no one meant to hurt each other?
(Example: You text your friend and they don’t respond, so you assume they’re mad, but they were just busy.)
- Jumping to conclusions
- Misunderstanding someone’s actions can lead to conflict
What are the three parts of the Cognitive Triangle?
Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
You got left out of a group chat. What’s one respectful way to handle it?
Ask why or say how it made you feel instead of shutting down.
What does the ‘S’ in STAR stand for?
Stop and take a breath before reacting.
What does it mean to feel ‘mixed emotions’?
Feeling more than one emotion at the same time (Example: feeling happy and nervous).
What’s one way to stop a small disagreement from becoming a big one?
Take a deep breath and talk it out.
You get a bad grade on an assignment and immediately think, “I’m just dumb.”
What’s another thought you could have that’s more helpful or realistic?
- "That was a difficult assignment, but I can ask for help and try again.”
- "I tried my best."
Someone posts a photo of you without asking. What’s something you can say?
‘Can you take that down? I didn’t say it was okay.’
How can using STAR help when you're upset with someone you care about?
It helps you slow down and say what you really mean respectfully.
Name 2 ways your body might react when you're nervous.
- Sweaty palms
- Fast heartbeat
- Butterflies in your stomach
Name 2 feelings that can make people act without thinking.
- Anger
- Embarrassment
- Grief
- Jealousy
- Fear
- Anxiety
Change this thought to something more helpful: “Everyone’s going to laugh at me if I mess up.”
- “Everyone messes up sometimes, and it’s okay to try."
Your friend left you on read for hours. How might you respond respectfully?
Send a message like: ‘Everything okay? I wasn’t sure how to take the silence.’
Give an example of a time you could use STAR to avoid saying something hurtful.
Example: When you're mad at a friend, you can pause and choose your words carefully.