My Body Clues

Just like a car has lights on the dashboard to show if it needs gas, your body has Body Clues. When you have a big feeling, your brain sends a message to your body. These clues help us understand if we are happy, sad, or mad. For example, if your face feels very hot, your body might be telling you that you are angry. If your tummy feels like it has 'butterflies' jumping inside, you might be feeling nervous or worried.

Different feelings like to hide in different spots. Anger often hides in your hands (making them turn into tight fists) or your teeth (making them mash together). Sadness might feel like a heavy weight on your chest or make your eyes feel 'watery.' Worry usually hides in the tummy, making it feel tight or shaky. When we find where the feeling is hiding, we can name it and help it feel better.

We can group our body clues into two big teams: Calm and Upset. A calm body feels 'soft.' Your muscles are relaxed, your breathing is slow, and your hands are still. An upset body feels 'hard' or 'tight.' Your shoulders might go up to your ears, and your breath might be short and fast. If we count our breaths, a calm body might take $1$ breath every $4$ seconds, while an upset body takes $1$ breath every $1$ second!