Hi,
This is Abi from the Mindful Bee and this is a story about invisible little genies.
And even though we can't see them,
We can often hear their little voices in our ear when we get mad or sad or worried.
These meanie little genies try to make us say and do all sorts of things,
But we don't have to listen to them or do what they suggest.
We have a choice.
So if you've ever heard mean little genies in your ear and you don't want to listen to them anymore,
Maybe this story could help you get rid of them.
Are you ready now?
It's called Genies Can Be Meanies.
Genies can be meanies and I'm sure you know that's true.
Genies can be meanies and make fun of me and you.
Genies like to laugh when they see certain disaster,
But they would just not dare if they found you or I their master.
But most of us can't recognize mean genies just by sight.
We can see the things they do and hear the pranks they pull at night.
We can hear the words they whisper.
We can feel them wander past,
But we cannot see these genies.
Perhaps they move too fast.
Tell me,
Have you ever heard a whisper at your ear when you swing around to look there's rarely anybody near?
It might happen during squabbles,
Disagreements with your friends,
When they've said something unpleasant and don't want to make amends and you hear a little voice that whispers,
Go on,
In your ear.
Tell him he's an idiot or stupid loud and clear.
And you know that it's a genie being mean and quite unkind,
But there's still a little part of you that's mad and so you find quite often that you bellow back,
I hate you,
To your friend and you stalk away and suddenly feel horrible right then.
You hadn't meant to say it,
You feel terrible and mean and that genie who's a meanie chuckles loudly at the scene.
They don't care that you're upset and now your friend is too.
They think that it's hilarious,
They don't feel bad like you.
So next time you feel cross or sad and hear that genie's voice you don't have to just react,
You actually have a choice.
You can pause and take a deep breath in and think of something nice and remind yourself that you don't have to heed their rude advice.
You might decide to press your lips together and just smile or walk before saying something you'll regret in a while.
Genies can be meanies and they like to watch you row.
They think it's fun to get you into trouble anyhow.
You might be in a classroom and the teacher says,
Hey you,
Why don't you come up here and show me something you can do?
And that genie who's a meanie whispers,
No,
Just tell him no and maybe because you're slightly scared and really don't want to go you blurt out,
No I won't and the teacher grows so cross that they send you to the head teacher,
The school's big scary boss and you really feel so awful.
You hadn't meant to shout but you felt scared and nervous and your mind was full of doubt and now you're really worried because the genie followed you and you don't know when you see the head what it might make you do but remember when you feel upset and hear that genie's voice you don't have to just react you actually have a choice.
You can pause and take a deep breath in and think of something nice and remind yourself that you don't have to heed their rude advice.
So when the head comes out and asks what do you have to say and the genie who's a meanie says tell her to go away.
Take a breath and take a pause and use the words you choose.
Maybe I'm sorry miss but I was feeling scared and all confused.
Genies can be meanies but don't have to spoil your day.
Maybe if you ignore them they'll get bored and go away but still be on your guard because they may find another one and whisper in their ear to do the things genies find fun.
These genies who are meanies might tell them to trip you up or shove you in the back or nick your pen or hide your cup and it's up to you to tell those people when enough's enough because genies might be meanies but really that's just tough.
This people can choose not to listen when the genies speak.
They can ignore the unkind words and turn the other cheek.
You don't have to be mean to them or then be mean to you.
You can all ignore the genies who are meanies.
Yeah it's true.
We might find some things funny and we may just laugh along but we also need to make it clear when we feel something's wrong.
We can choose our own words carefully or choose to walk away or find a grown-up who can help find something else to say.
You can say no to genies and you can still be kind.
They do not have to speak for you and influence your mind and the best thing about kindness it's contagious some might say and your friends may catch it from you and so find another way of ignoring those mean genies who whisper right in their ear and eventually those genies might just simply disappear.
