“Sometimes I find myself lost in the Forest of Emotions, sitting under a great tree. I see many flowers underneath: words from other people, memories, objects. I look up the great tree in the forest and I can’t see the sky. I have to think hard to find its name. Once I have the tree’s name, I have to call the goldfish that swims by it in the creek. There are lots of fish and I have to think hard to find its name. Once I have my goldfish, I follow it alongside the creek right up to the lake. Now, when I look up the sky I have to find the raindrops that gives it water. There aren’t so many raindrops and I find mine soon. Once I find my raindrop, I can see the sky again, I can find my way out of the forest and I can find myself.
Can you find the tree you are sitting under right now?”
I developed this illustration as a tool to help my children find words to explain what they are going through on a hard day.
I used the current theory of primary, secondary and tertiary emotions. To illustrate, I used the map of a forest with clean colors to show my children what they are going through is natural and interesting. I tell my children this queer little story to help them use the poster.
Once the illustration was ready, I realised that
- it promotes self-control as set the most important skill to become a successful adult by the Dunedin-study
- it promotes empathy and provides a tool to understand others (I also use it to explain my children what I am going through on a hard day)
- adult feedback is that it is an easy and useful tool to help voice adult emotions as well
Please get back to me if you found yourself interested. Tell me whether I misspelt something, if you have any ideas, about the trees that didn’t fit on the illustration or your own story.
My email is askme@vera.nz