Like You is listener supported. You can support the show by subscribing on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or becoming a patron on ⁠Patreon⁠. You can also support the show by shopping in ⁠our online store⁠ or purchasing songs from the show on ⁠our Bandcamp page⁠.

Please send us a voice memo, drawing, or letter at ⁠hello@likeyoupodcast.com⁠. We play a voice memos from listeners either at the beginning of an episode or during the affirmation segment of the episode. If your child wants to be included, record a voice memo and send it to us. Your child can introduce themself and then say a favorite affirmation, sing a line from a Like You song, say what they like about the show, or share whatever they feel! Keep it short (10-20 seconds). For more info on how to record and send a voice memo, see ⁠this post⁠, or ⁠click here⁠.

Like You is a production of ⁠Perpetual Motion⁠. The show is written and produced by Noah Glenn. The show’s artwork was illustrated by ⁠Mia Saine⁠. Episode art is created by ⁠Lindsey Glenn⁠.

This episode features original music by Noah Glenn. 

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The music of Like You is now streaming through your favorite music services like Apple Music and Spotify. Now you can dance or sing along with your favorite songs any time! Just search for album title Music from Like You: Mindfulness for Kids, or find links on the music page of our website, likeyoupodcast.com. Also, if you want to help us keep making new podcast episodes, you can support the show by subscribing through Patreon or Apple Podcasts, or leaving a 5 star review wherever you listen to podcasts. Grownups can find more information in our episode notes, or on our website. Now let’s start the show.

[intro music]

Noah: Hello! I’m Noah and this is Like You: Mindfulness for Kids. I’m very glad you’re here, and I’m excited to kick off a brand new season of Like You episodes. A lot has happened since I last shared a new episode. How was your summer? Did you do anything new, fun, or memorable?

How has your school year been so far? Are you making friends and learning new things? I hope you are.

While the podcast was on break, we reached a big milestone. During the summer, we passed over one million listens! I don’t know if that means I have a million listeners who have listened to one episode, or if I just have one listener who’s listened a million times. I’m only kidding. I’m sure it’s somewhere in between. I want to say a big thank you to anyone who’s ever listened to the podcast, whether it was once, or hundreds, or thousands, or millions of times.

On today’s episode we’re going to do some brain stretches by thinking about eight thoughts to blow your mind. So listeners of all ages, find a place to listen where you feel comfortable and safe. As I ask questions and invite you to say affirmations, you’re welcome to speak out loud, or as always, you can just think your responses quietly in your mind.

Let’s start with a breathing exercise to help relax your body and focus your mind. We’re going to ease back in with the simplest breathing exercise of all. Simply turn your attention to your own breathing as you breathe in and out. For now I won’t tell you when or how to breathe. You can just keep breathing normally. Just clear your mind and try to think about nothing else besides your breath going in and out. Just pay attention and notice how you’re breathing, naturally. I’ll be quiet for a few seconds while you listen to yourself breathe. 

[10 seconds silence]

Now as you continue breathing, try to make yourself breathe slower and more deeply. You’re still working at your own pace, just practice making your breaths deep and long.

[10 seconds silence]

Now I want you to stretch your arms out as wide as you can. Hold that stretch while you take another deep breath in and out. Now relax.

On the count of three let’s all say I like me. 1-2-3. I like me.

I like you too. In the entire world, there’s no one else exactly like you, and I like you exactly the way you are.

Since this is my first episode back after a break, I thought I would start with a sort of warm up exercise. When you do any sort of exercise it’s always a good idea to stretch first. And since mindfulness is a way of exercising our minds, I thought we should stretch our minds.

So today I’m presenting a special episode of “Thoughts to stretch your mind.” These thoughts may be amazing, unexpected, or even a little confusing. After each thought, I’ll leave a few seconds of silence for you to ponder that thought before we move on. So let’s get started with our first mind-stretching thought. This one is about you. Did you realize that you once held a world record? In fact you set that record the moment you were born. It’s true. Think about this: The second you were born, you were the youngest person in the world. 

Let’s move on to our next mind-stretching thought. Picture an elephant in your mind. Elephants are definitely big, heavy animals aren’t they? Well did you know that a blue whale is so enormous that it’s tongue weighs more than most elephants?

Speaking of heavy things, we think of clouds as being soft, fluffy, and weightless as they float through the sky. Well, did you know that clouds can actually weigh over a million pounds?

Now for our fourth mind stretching thought. Most of the sky is actually below your feet. Since the earth is round, the sky on the other side of the world is actually under your feet.

Speaking of the other side of the world, any time you watch a sunset, there is someone in another part of the world watching the same sunrise.

This next thought is actually just a question for you to ponder. Is the color orange named after the fruit, or is the fruit known as an orange named after the color?

Here’s another thought to stretch your mind. When a balloon is only half inflated, it is still completely full.

And for our last mind-stretching thought. D id you know that it is impossible to walk more than halfway into a forest? That’s because once you reach halfway, then you technically begin walking out of the forest on the other side.

I hope you enjoyed stretching your mind with me today. Did you have a favorite thought from the episode? Try to remember one of those thoughts to share with a friend so they can stretch their minds too.

Now it’s time for affirmations. Affirmations are words you can say about yourself to remind yourself how wonderful you are. I’ll say each affirmation twice. So you can listen the first time, then say it together with me the second time. Here we go.

I have a brilliant mind.

I am always learning and growing.

I am curious about the world around me.

I pay attention to positive things.

I think creatively.

My thoughts and feelings are important.

I am grateful for people who love me.

Now let’s take a few slow, deep breaths as we wind down our time together. If any of those affirmations stood out to you, feel free to write them down, or just store them safely in your mind to say when you need it. If you have an affirmation that is special to you, I would love to hear it! If you’d like to send a recording of your favorite affirmation to play on the show, have a grownup check our website or episode notes for more information. 

Now let’s end this episode with a song. Feel free to sing, dance, or practice breathing deep breaths as I sing.

One, One, Wonderful

Full, Full, Full of wonder

One, One, Wonderful

Full, Full, Full of wonder

One Two Three

You and me

Four Five Six

What a nice mix

Seven Eight

Feeling great

Nine and ten

You’re my friend

One, One, Wonderful

Full, Full, Full of wonder

One, One, Wonderful

Full, Full, Full of wonder

Ten nine

Feeling fine

8, 7, 6, 5, 4

Three Two

How do you do?

One One Wonderful

I can’t wait to spend some time together again soon. Until next time, I like you, I’m proud of you, and I’m glad we are friends. Have a happy and peaceful day.

Like You is a production of Perpetual Motion. It is made possible by our subscribers on Patreon and Apple Podcasts. Become a supporter by visiting Patreon.com/likeyoupodcast, or by tapping “subscribe” on our show page in Apple Podcasts. You can also tell your friends about the show or leave a 5 star review wherever you listen to podcasts. Like You is written and hosted by me, Noah Glenn. I also composed and performed the Like You theme music and other music that appeared in the episode. Our podcast cover art was illustrated by Mia Saine. Our episode art is created by Lindsey Glenn. Grownups can find more information about Like You by visiting our website at likeyoupodcast.com. Thanks for listening.