Lesson Plan
Your Inner Anchor
Students will be able to identify personal needs for grounding and construct 3-5 personalized positive affirmations to support their emotional well-being throughout the day.
Learning to create and use positive affirmations provides a valuable tool for self-regulation, promoting self-compassion, reducing stress, and fostering a more positive internal dialogue. This skill empowers students to navigate daily challenges with greater resilience.
Audience
17-year-old female
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Hands-on affirmation creation.
Materials
Prep
Preparation Steps
10 minutes
- Review the Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck, Your Inner Anchor Script, and My Affirmation Worksheet.
- Ensure a quiet and comfortable space is available for the student.
- Have writing materials (pen/pencil, paper or digital equivalent) ready for the student if not using the worksheet directly.
- Consider any specific needs or preferences of the individual student for a tailored experience.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Checking In
2 minutes
- Begin by asking the student how she is feeling today and what's on her mind. This helps establish rapport and identify any immediate emotional states.
- Use a casual, supportive tone to create a safe space for sharing. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Script.
Step 2
Introduction: What is Grounding?
2 minutes
- Introduce the concept of grounding and why it's helpful, especially for managing stress or anxious feelings.
- Explain how positive affirmations can serve as personal grounding tools. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck and Your Inner Anchor Script.
Step 3
Understanding Positive Affirmations
3 minutes
- Briefly explain what positive affirmations are and how they work (reprogramming thoughts).
- Provide a few general examples and discuss their potential benefits.
- Facilitate a short discussion on why affirmations might be useful for her. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck and Your Inner Anchor Script.
Step 4
Guided Affirmation Creation
5 minutes
- Guide the student through the process of creating her own affirmations.
- Encourage her to think about areas where she feels she needs more support, strength, or calm.
- Distribute the My Affirmation Worksheet and assist her in brainstorming and writing down 3-5 personal affirmations.
- Emphasize making them personal, present tense, and positive. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck and Your Inner Anchor Script.
Step 5
Practice & Planning Integration
2 minutes
- Ask the student to choose one affirmation to practice saying aloud or silently.
- Discuss when and where she might use these affirmations throughout her day (e.g., before a test, during a stressful moment, waking up, before bed).
- Encourage her to think about how to integrate them into her daily routine. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Script.
Step 6
Cool Down: Reflection
1 minute
- Ask the student how she feels after creating her affirmations and if she feels more grounded.
- Reinforce the idea that this is a personal tool she can continue to develop and use. Refer to Your Inner Anchor Script.
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Slide Deck
Your Inner Anchor: Finding Calm Within
Creating Positive Affirmations for Grounding Yourself.
What does it mean to feel 'grounded'?
Welcome the student and set a calm, positive tone. Briefly introduce the topic of finding inner calm. Engage by asking what 'grounding' means to them.
What is Grounding?
• Bringing yourself to the present moment.
• Calming your mind and body.
• Coping with stress, anxiety, or overwhelming feelings.
Why is it helpful?
Explain grounding as a technique to bring focus to the present moment when feeling overwhelmed. Use simple, relatable examples. Ask: 'When do you feel ungrounded?'
What are Positive Affirmations?
• Short, positive statements.
• Said to yourself regularly.
• Designed to challenge negative thoughts and promote a positive mindset.
Think of them as your personal mental boosts!
Define positive affirmations as statements that challenge negative thoughts. Explain they are like 'mini pep talks.' Provide an example. Ask: 'What's a positive message you've heard that stuck with you?'
Why Use Affirmations as an Anchor?
• Boost Self-Esteem: Reinforce your strengths.
• Reduce Stress: Shift focus from worries to calm.
• Improve Mood: Cultivate a positive outlook.
• Build Resilience: Help you bounce back from challenges.
They are your inner voice of support!
Discuss the power of words and self-talk. Explain how consistent affirmations can reshape thought patterns and boost self-esteem. Ask: 'How can our thoughts impact our feelings?'
Crafting Your Personal Affirmations
Tips for Powerful Affirmations:
- Be Personal: Use "I am," "I can," "I choose."
- Be Positive: Focus on what you want.
- Be Present Tense: Affirm it as already true.
- Be Specific: Target a feeling or goal.
Let's create your unique grounding statements!
Guide them through the worksheet. Emphasize making affirmations personal, present tense, and actionable. Provide prompts: 'What strengths do you want to affirm? What feelings do you want to cultivate?'
Anchor Your Day: Practice & Plan
• Choose 1-2 affirmations to start.
• Practice saying them silently or aloud.
• Identify moments in your day to use them:
• When you wake up?
• Before a challenging task?
• During a stressful moment?
• Before bed?
Make them a part of your daily rhythm.
Encourage them to pick one or two to try now. Discuss different times they could use them: morning, before an event, when feeling overwhelmed. Emphasize consistency.
You Are Your Own Inner Anchor
Remember, you have the power to create a positive internal environment. Keep practicing, keep affirming, and keep shining! ✨
What affirmation resonates with you most right now?
Conclude by reiterating the power of their inner voice and their ability to choose positive self-talk. Offer encouragement to continue using and refining their affirmations.
Script
Your Inner Anchor Script
Warm-Up: Checking In (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Hey [Student's Name], thanks for coming today. How are you doing? What's been on your mind lately, or how are you feeling in this moment? No pressure to share anything you don't want to, but I'm here to listen if you want to talk."
(Listen actively and acknowledge her feelings. Transition smoothly.)
Introduction: What is Grounding? (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Today, we're going to explore a really helpful tool that many people use to feel calmer and more in control, especially when things feel a bit overwhelming. It's called 'grounding.'"
Teacher: "When you hear the word 'grounded,' what comes to mind?"
(Allow for a brief response.)
Teacher: "Exactly! Feeling 'grounded' is about bringing your attention to the present moment, calming your mind, and feeling more stable. It's like finding a steady spot when everything else feels shaky. We're going to talk about how positive affirmations can be your personal anchor for those times."
(Transition to Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Grounding?)
Understanding Positive Affirmations (3 minutes)
Teacher: "So, what exactly are positive affirmations? They are simply short, positive statements that you say to yourself regularly. The idea is to challenge any negative thoughts and help you build a more positive and empowering mindset."
Teacher: "Think of them like a mental boost or a mini pep talk from yourself, to yourself."
Teacher: "For example, instead of thinking, 'I'm not good enough,' an affirmation might be, 'I am capable and strong.'"
Teacher: "Do you think our thoughts have a big impact on how we feel?"
(Allow for discussion.)
Teacher: "They really do! And using affirmations is a way to intentionally direct those thoughts. These aren't just feel-good phrases; they're tools for training your brain."
(Transition to Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck - Slide 3 & 4: What are Positive Affirmations? & Why Use Affirmations?)
Guided Affirmation Creation (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Now for the exciting part: creating your very own 'inner anchors.' I have a My Affirmation Worksheet that can help us. You can write directly on it or just use it as a guide."
(Hand out My Affirmation Worksheet. Display Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck - Slide 5: Crafting Your Affirmations)
Teacher: "Here are some tips to make your affirmations really powerful:
- Be Personal: Start with 'I am,' 'I can,' or 'I choose.'
- Be Positive: Focus on what you want to achieve or feel, not what you want to avoid.
- Be Present Tense: Write it as if it's already true.
- Be Specific: Target a feeling or goal that's important to you.
Teacher: "Let's brainstorm a bit. What are some areas where you feel you need more support, strength, or calm in your day? Are there any negative thoughts you often find yourself battling?"
(Guide her in writing 3-5 affirmations. Offer examples if she struggles, e.g., 'I am calm and centered,' 'I trust my inner strength,' 'I choose peace over worry.')
Practice & Planning Integration (2 minutes)
Teacher: "Fantastic! You've created some really powerful statements. Now, let's think about how you can use these. Can you pick one or two that you feel most connected to right now?"
(Allow her to choose and say it aloud if comfortable.)
Teacher: "Great! Now, when and where in your day do you think you could use this affirmation? For example, some people say them when they first wake up, before a challenging class, when they feel stressed, or before they go to bed. How could you make this a part of your routine?"
(Guide discussion and help her identify specific moments. Display Your Inner Anchor Slide Deck - Slide 6: Practice & Plan)
Cool Down: Reflection (1 minute)
Teacher: "How do you feel after creating these affirmations and thinking about using them? Do you feel a little more grounded or prepared?"
(Listen and affirm her feelings.)
Teacher: "That's wonderful to hear. Remember, these are your personal tools. You can always refine them, add new ones, and make them your own. You have the power to be your own inner anchor, bringing calm and strength to your day. Keep practicing, keep affirming, and keep shining!"
Worksheet
My Affirmation Worksheet: Your Inner Anchor
This worksheet is designed to help you create powerful positive affirmations that can help you feel grounded and strong throughout your day. Remember, these are your personal tools, so make them meaningful to you!
Part 1: Reflect & Identify Your Needs
Take a moment to think about your day-to-day life. When do you feel ungrounded, stressed, or when do you wish you felt more confident, calm, or strong? What kind of inner support would be most helpful to you?
What feelings or thoughts do you want to change or strengthen? (e.g., feeling anxious, lacking confidence, overwhelmed, wanting more calm, strength, self-love)
Part 2: Craft Your Affirmations
Now, let's turn those needs into positive affirmations! Use the tips below to guide you.
Tips for Powerful Affirmations:
- Be Personal: Use "I am," "I can," "I choose."
- Be Positive: Focus on what you want to feel or achieve.
- Be Present Tense: Write it as if it's already true right now.
- Be Specific: Target a particular feeling, quality, or goal.
Affirmation Ideas (Aim for 3-5):
-
"I am..." (e.g., capable, calm, strong, worthy, enough)
____________________________________________________________________ -
"I can..." (e.g., handle this, find peace, overcome challenges)
____________________________________________________________________ -
"I choose to..." (e.g., be present, release worry, believe in myself)
____________________________________________________________________ -
Focusing on a specific feeling/goal:
____________________________________________________________________ -
Another powerful affirmation:
____________________________________________________________________
Part 3: Plan Your Practice
Choose 1-2 affirmations from above that you want to start using regularly.
My top 1-2 affirmations are:
When and where will you use these affirmations today or this week? (e.g., when you wake up, before a test, during a stressful moment, before bed)
What are you hoping to feel or achieve by using these affirmations?