“Who Am I Really?” Guided Contemplation

Opening Invitation Invite students to sit comfortably and settle into a reflective mood.

“Let’s explore something curious together. We’re going to investigate our own minds and feelings—like being detectives of our inner world.”

Observing Our Changing Emotions Encourage sharing – this helps students connect with the universality of changing emotions.

“Think about yesterday… Can you remember feeling different emotions at different times? Maybe you felt frustrated when you couldn’t find your favorite shirt, excited during recess, worried about a test, and happy at dinner with your family?

Who can share an example of feeling two different emotions in the same day?”

Allow 2-3 students to share, then continue.

“Notice how your feelings keep changing throughout the day, like weather passing through the sky. Sometimes stormy, sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy.”

Present Moment Investigation This section moves into more internal reflection – guide students to look within rather than share aloud.

“Now let’s investigate your own experience right here, right now. Close your eyes if that feels comfortable, or just look down softly.

Right now, in this very moment, how are you feeling? Are you curious? Calm? A little fidgety? Just notice without trying to change anything.

Pause for 20-30 seconds.

Now think back to this morning when you were getting ready. Were you feeling exactly the same way then? Or was your mood different—maybe sleepy, excited, or grumpy?

Pause for reflection.

What about yesterday when something made you really angry or upset? Take a moment to remember that feeling… Are you feeling that exact same anger right now? Has it stayed with you every single second since then?”

Allow time for internal reflection.

The Heart of the Question Return to conversational sharing to build understanding together.

“Here’s what’s fascinating: You can be sad one moment, then burst into laughter when your friend tells a joke. You can feel scared during a thunderstorm, then completely peaceful when someone you love gives you a hug.

Can anyone think of a time when your mood changed really quickly like this?”

Allow sharing, then guide back to contemplation.

“Your emotions come and go like waves on the ocean—they rise up, stay for a while, then fade away. But something remains constant through all these changes.”

The Deep Question This is the most contemplative section – encourage quiet inner looking.

“Now for the deeper investigation. Close your eyes again and really look within…

If your anger comes and goes… if your sadness doesn’t stay forever… if your fear disappears when you feel safe… then are YOU the same thing as these temporary feelings?

Pause for reflection.

When your anger goes away, do YOU disappear too? Of course not—you’re still here.

Longer pause – allow 30-45 seconds.

So if you’re not your passing emotions, and you’re not your changing moods… who is the ‘you’ that remains? Who is the awareness that notices all these feelings coming and going?

Give substantial time for this inquiry – 1-2 minutes of silence.

Take a moment to sense this… the part of you that’s always been here, watching, aware, unchanged by all the storms and sunshine of your emotions.”

Closing Reflection End in contemplative silence, then gentle return.

“Rest here for a moment, appreciating this spacious, aware part of yourself that’s bigger than any single feeling or mood. This is your true nature—stable, open, and always present.

Allow 30 seconds of silence.

When you’re ready, gently open your eyes and return your attention to the room.”

Optional: Ask if anyone would like to share what they discovered, but don’t require it.