{"id":2351659,"date":"2024-10-22T09:51:24","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T13:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/?p=2351659"},"modified":"2024-10-30T11:42:24","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T15:42:24","slug":"helping-kids-manage-negative-thoughts-the-power-of-noticing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/helping-kids-manage-negative-thoughts-the-power-of-noticing\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Kids Manage Negative Thoughts: The Power of Noticing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gzvideo\"><div class=\"fluid-video-wrapper square\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1020679160?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479&amp;dnt=1\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-79c58c52 gb-headline-text\"><em>The lyrics to this original GoZen! song are below the article; you can also click on the &#8220;CC&#8221; to turn captions on inside the video. Exciting news: The full album with printables is now available <a href=\"http:\/\/gozen.com\/programs\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"gozen.com\/programs\">inside our membership<\/a>!<br><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all experience negative thoughts. They just show up like bad guests, unannounced, and overstaying their welcome. For kids and teens, these thoughts can be especially tough, often leading to feelings of doubt, fear, or anxiety. But what if we could teach young people a simple skill to manage these thoughts: one that helps them observe without getting swept away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s exactly what our new song <em>&#8220;I\u2019m Noticing&#8221;<\/em> is designed to do. Instead of trying to push negative thoughts away or letting them take over, we can encourage kids and teens to pause and observe their thoughts from a distance\u2014just like watching clouds float by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Noticing Works<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Noticing is more than just paying attention\u2014it&#8217;s about creating space between ourselves and our thoughts. When we notice a thought, we\u2019re not reacting to it or letting it define us; we\u2019re simply acknowledging its presence and allowing it to pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s why the skill of <em>noticing<\/em> is so powerful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Creates Distance from Thoughts:<\/strong> By observing their thoughts instead of getting caught up in them, kids create emotional distance. They can see thoughts for what they are\u2014just thoughts\u2014rather than facts or truths.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduces Reactivity:<\/strong> Noticing gives kids a chance to slow down and avoid reacting impulsively to their thoughts. This empowers them to respond calmly, rather than becoming overwhelmed by negative self-talk or worries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Builds Resilience:<\/strong> When kids learn to notice and let go of thoughts, they build resilience. They understand that thoughts are temporary and they don\u2019t need to give every passing idea power or attention. This strengthens their ability to cope with challenges and manage emotions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to Use the Song to Help Kids with Negative Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can introduce <em>&#8220;I\u2019m Noticing&#8221;<\/em> to help your kids or students practice mindfulness and manage their negative thoughts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start with the Song<\/strong><br>Encourage kids to listen to the <em>&#8220;I\u2019m Noticing&#8221;<\/em> song. The lyrics offer a simple but profound message: thoughts come and go, and we don\u2019t have to let them dictate how we feel. By singing along, kids begin to internalize the idea that they have control over their responses to thoughts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practice Mindful Observation<\/strong><br>After listening to the song, ask kids to reflect on a few thoughts they&#8217;ve noticed throughout the day. These might be worries, fears, or self-doubts. Encourage them to write these thoughts down on paper or draw them on cloud shapes, symbolizing that these thoughts are temporary, like clouds in the sky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Incorporate Mindfulness Practice<\/strong><br>The song introduces the essence of mindfulness\u2014helping kids observe thoughts without judgment. Teach them that noticing a thought is the first step to managing it. They don\u2019t need to react to every thought that crosses their mind. Instead, they can acknowledge it and let it float away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empower Kids to Create Their Own Song<\/strong><br>Inspire kids to express their emotions creatively by writing their own version of a &#8220;noticing&#8221; song. This can be a fun, artistic way for them to engage with the practice and personalize it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Song Lyrics<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m Noticing&#8221;<br><em>by GoZen!<br><\/em><br><em>Sometimes my mind is running fast, spinning round and round<br>A million thoughts are pulling me, trying to pull me down<br>But I can take a step back, let the moment breathe<br>It\u2019s not the end, it\u2019s just a thought that\u2019s trying to deceive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I don\u2019t have to believe it, I don\u2019t have to react<br>I\u2019m stronger than the fear, I can take my power back<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>It\u2019s just a thought that\u2019s passing by<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>I don\u2019t have to give it all my time<br>I can watch it float away, like clouds up in the sky<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m alright<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I used to get lost in the noise, in all the &#8220;what ifs&#8221;<br>But now I see it clearer, and I don\u2019t have to drift<br>It\u2019s just a little whisper, a voice inside my head<br>But I decide what I believe, not the things it said<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I don\u2019t have to believe it, I don\u2019t have to react<br>I\u2019m stronger than the doubt, I\u2019ll always bounce back<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>It\u2019s just a thought that\u2019s passing by<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>I don\u2019t have to give it all my time<br>I can watch it float away, like clouds up in the sky<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m alright<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Every day\u2019s a brand new page, and I can start again<br>I\u2019ll keep my head above the waves, I\u2019m learning how to swim<br>I\u2019m in control, I\u2019m in control, and I\u2019ll be just fine<br>No matter what comes my way, I\u2019m not falling behind<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>It\u2019s just a thought that\u2019s passing by<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing<br>I don\u2019t have to give it all my time<br>I can watch it float away, like clouds up in the sky<br>I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m alright<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Yeah, I\u2019m noticing, I\u2019m noticing, and I\u2019m alright<br>I\u2019m alright, I\u2019m alright, I\u2019m alright<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manage negative thoughts with mindfulness using our new song &#8216;I\u2019m Noticing.&#8217;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2351664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2351659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gozen-anxiety-relief","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2351659"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2353231,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2351659\/revisions\/2353231"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2351664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2351659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2351659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gozen.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2351659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}