It's super important to understand the feelings you have, why you're having them, and have language to express them. That's our starting point. We'll explore emotional literacy for all ages, learn to better understand the feelings you tend to have in reaction to situations, and why those happen for you. This will be foundational to building a common platform for communicating in your family about feelings and experiences.

We often say we are feeling things like "sick, unsteady, hot, hungry, etc", but actually, those are sensations in the body - which is distinct from emotional feelings. Teasing these apart can help you tune into your own body and clarify your physical cues and what emotions they might be pointing to. Each of us have some common and some unique physical sensations associated with emotions, and once you decode that in yourself and in your kids, you can better understand what's at play and what to do about it. They serve as clues or warning signals, which can put you ahead of the overwhelming feelings that might be creeping up on you.

We have green, red and yellow thoughts, pretty much about everything. They help us know if it's safe to go, stop or pause and assess the situation. Most of us glide from thought to thought without realizing what color they are, which can lead us down unintentional paths toward reacting to circumstances. If we learn to notice what color our thoughts are, we can choose to continue down that path or shift our thoughts toward a better outcome - one we feel more in control of. We'll also explore the connection between how we think and how we feel.

Awareness is key to choosing a new direction. It also allows us to honor and value what our bodies and minds are trying to tell us. If we practice attuning to our sensations, feelings and thoughts, we have a more thorough and accurate picture of what's going on and what we want to do about it. Calming our nervous system regularly adds a critical tool to our coping tool kits.

Learn how the way we think and feel, leads us to act or behave a certain way. When we learn to be aware of our emotions and learn to shift how we perceive or think of our circumstances, we respond differently. If how we feel and think about a situation tells us we need to defend or protect ourselves, we act in a way that shields, avoids or attacks. The way we behave has consequences for how we live out our day to day lives; our capacity to try new things; and to make healthy relationships.

It doesn't work just to make a plan and stick it on paper. We need to put it into action. Consider it a test experiment. You make a plan that you think has the best chance of working, and then you put it to the test. Tweaking or redesigning your plan is part of the process of learning to adapt and not throw in the towel. It builds resilience when you realize that if you don't nail it the first time, you are very capable of trying something different and having success.

While it's great to feel the success of reaching an end point, the focus of our celebration is on the effort put in. It's not easy to push your boundaries and get out of your comfort zone, especially if you've relied on that comfort zone as your retreat centre when you're anxious. The energy and courage you pour into braving a new approach is very worth celebrating. When you own your attempts and your progress, it helps you acknowledge the gains rather than solely focus on what you couldn't do. And celebrating with others, is even more powerful.

We will review the skills learned so far, and then talk about where to go from here. Additional resources will be recommended for you to explore based on where you find yourself at the end of this course.

You will also receive a family workbook, designed to offer parents the tools to engage kids and enhance learning for the whole family. Take what you've learned from the videos and apply it right away. As we continue to grow this program, and receive feedback, all new learning tools will be made available for life.

Need help connecting the dots or support in applying the tools to your family dynamic? At registration check-out, select option to add on one 50-minute consultation session with course creator, Karen Peters, to be used anytime within one year of course purchase.