The Children’s Book Lesson That Thousands of Adults Needed to Hear
A couple days ago, I created a short video with a simple message:
“Teach your child this before anxiety teaches them something else.”
I hoped it would help kids and parents. I hoped it would start a conversation.
What I didn’t expect was for the video to reach hundreds of thousands of people – and for so many of the comments to come from adults saying the same thing:
“I needed this.”
Not “my child needed this.”
Not “my students needed this.”
“I needed this.”
As I read through comment after comment, I noticed a pattern. Many adults were carrying around the same worries, fears, self-doubt that I see in kids every day.
The difference?
Most adults were never taught what to do with those thoughts.
The Bubble Lesson
One of the core ideas in Lumi’s Magical Bubble is that thoughts are like bubbles.
Some bubbles are helpful.
Some bubbles are kind.
Some bubbles remind us that we’re capable, loved, and stronger than we think.
But some bubbles carry worry.
Some carry self-doubt.
Some whisper things like:
“What if I fail?
“What if I’m not good enough?”
“What if something goes wrong?”
The important lesson isn’t that we stop thoughts from appearing.
It’s that we learn we don’t have to hold onto every thought that floats by.
We can notice it.
We can name it.
We can choose whether it deserves our attention.
And sometimes?
We can simply let it float away or POP it. (Kids love to pop it!)
The Truth About Anxiety
Many of us grew up believing every thought that entered our minds.
If we thought it, it must be true.
If we worried about it, it must be important.
If it felt scary, we should pay attention to it.
But thoughts aren’t facts.
They’re visitors.
Some stay for a moment.
Some linger longer.
Some deserve our attention.
Others deserve a gentle goodbye.
When kids learn this skill early, it can change the way they relate to anxiety, confidence, mistakes, and challenges.
But judging by the comments on the video, adults are craving this reminder too.
The Lesson Adults Are Taking from a Children’s Book
The message isn’t “think positive all the time.” That’s impossible!
The message is:
You are not every thought you think.
You can notice a worried thought without becoming it.
You can hear a critical thought without believing it.
You can acknowledge a fearful thought without letting it make your decisions.
That’s the power of the bubble.
And maybe that’s why so many adults connected with the video.
Because deep down, we all want permission to stop carrying every thought that enters our minds.
This Week’s Challenge
The next time a negative thought shows up, imagine it’s a bubble.
Look at it.
Notice it.
Ask yourself:
“Is this thought helping me right now?”
If the answer is no, let it float
You don’t have to chase it.
You don’t have to fight it.
You don’t have to carry it.
Just let it drift by.
Because sometimes the most powerful lesson isn’t learning how to control our thoughts.
It’s learning that we don’t have to keep every one of them.
Lumi’s Magical Bubble was written for kids but judging by the hundreds of comments on that viral video, adults might need the lesson just as much. If you’d like to explore the story and the simple bubble strategy with your family, Lumi’s Magical Bubble is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at www.wendydemer.com
Until next time…