“You know how sometimes you are with
people who make you feel tense?”
“You mean, like a grouchy store clerk or something?” asked
Sherry.
“Exactly. Or, maybe when Neil is teasing you or something like
that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I am going to teach you something called the ‘bubble
technique’. What you do is you think of your heart as being the center of
positive feelings or energy and then you take in a very deep breath like
this,” explained Geraldine as she deeply inhaled. “Then, as you breathe
out, you imagine that you are blowing a very big bubble. This bubble is
taller than you and wider than you. It is made of something that you can
see through like plastic or like the bubbles you blow from a jar…you know
what I mean? But, this bubble cannot just break or evaporate. And, no one
can see it but you. And, the bubble protects you from negative energy.”
“What do you mean ‘negative energy’?” asked Merry.
“Any bad feelings that might be in the room or around you. So
these bad feelings just bounce off your bubble. But, any positive energy
or good feelings that are around can come into your bubble. So, let’s say
someone is teasing you. You put yourself inside a bubble and their
meanness can’t get through to you because you are protected.”
“Wow, that’s cool,” commented Sherry.
“Try it now, both of you. Take in a very deep breath…good.
Now, as you let the breath out, imagine the bubble around you. Remember,
your particular bubble can be made of anything you want, just as long as
it’s transparent, that you can see through it.”
She watched as the girls created their bubbles.
“Now, the bubbles will last for several hours. And, you can
always blow new ones if you need them.”
“You know, I feel kind of different, don’t you?” Sherry asked
of her friend.
“Yeah, it’s kind of like I feel lighter or something.”
“Exactly! That’s just right,” beamed Geraldine.
“But, does it really work and how will we know if it is
working?” asked Merry.
“Just practice using the bubble anytime that you are worried
or anxious about where you are. You’ll see. The main thing is to use the
bubble frequently and then you will see that it works.”
Holly
W. Schwartztol, Ph.D.
