One Result Is Not All of Me
Separate one result from your whole worth and choose one manageable next step.
Watch lesson 10
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Let’s begin
We appreciated someone else's effort. Today we will be gentle with ourselves after a setback.
Can one difficult attempt prove that someone will never learn?
Story time
The paper-plane contest was over. Mimi's plane had landed nearby. She crumpled it up. 'I can't do anything!' she said. Her older sister replied, 'It is disappointing that it didn't fly far. Let's take a break first.'
Later, her sister put two planes on the table. 'Shall we look at just one part?' Mimi noticed that her wings had different widths. She unfolded the paper and tried again. The next plane still did not fly farthest, but it flew a little more steadily.
'I didn't win today, but I found one thing I can change,' Mimi said. She decided to try again tomorrow instead of spending the whole evening on the contest. One result could not erase her drawing, her kindness to friends or her willingness to learn.
Think together
Buddhism values cultivating helpful actions over time. Here we practice one small habit: choose a useful next step after a setback and allow rest. This is not a complete explanation of joyful effort in Buddhist teaching.
- Why didn't her sister say, 'There's nothing to be upset about'?
- What was Mimi's next small step?
Try an activity
Draw three boxes: what happened, what I noticed, and one thing to try next. You can use Mimi's story rather than a personal experience.
Take it home
Choose a small task and record one discovery. No stars or rankings are needed.
For adults: read-aloud script and guidance
Persistence must not mean pushing through exhaustion or danger. Do not promise that effort guarantees winning. Stopping or asking for help can be the right choice.
Nine-slide lesson outline
1. One Result Is Not All of Me
Learn together, one small step.
Separate one result from your whole worth and choose one manageable next step.
We appreciated someone else's effort. Today we will be gentle with ourselves after a setback.
2. Look closely
Can one difficult attempt prove that someone will never learn?
We appreciated someone else's effort. Today we will be gentle with ourselves after a setback.
Can one difficult attempt prove that someone will never learn?
3. Story 1 / 3
The paper-plane contest was over. Mimi's plane had landed nearby. She crumpled it up. 'I can't do anything!' she said. Her older sister replied, 'It is disappointing that it didn't fly far. Let's take a break first.'
The paper-plane contest was over. Mimi's plane had landed nearby. She crumpled it up. 'I can't do anything!' she said. Her older sister replied, 'It is disappointing that it didn't fly far. Let's take a break first.'
4. Story 2 / 3
Later, her sister put two planes on the table. 'Shall we look at just one part?' Mimi noticed that her wings had different widths. She unfolded the paper and tried again. The next plane still did not fly farthest, but it flew a little more steadily.
Later, her sister put two planes on the table. 'Shall we look at just one part?' Mimi noticed that her wings had different widths. She unfolded the paper and tried again. The next plane still did not fly farthest, but it flew a little more steadily.
5. Story 3 / 3
'I didn't win today, but I found one thing I can change,' Mimi said. She decided to try again tomorrow instead of spending the whole evening on the contest. One result could not erase her drawing, her kindness to friends or her willingness to learn.
'I didn't win today, but I found one thing I can change,' Mimi said. She decided to try again tomorrow instead of spending the whole evening on the contest. One result could not erase her drawing, her kindness to friends or her willingness to learn.
6. A Buddhist idea
One result
is not the whole of us.
Buddhism values cultivating helpful actions over time. Here we practice one small habit: choose a useful next step after a setback and allow rest. This is not a complete explanation of joyful effort in Buddhist teaching.
7. Talk together
Why didn't her sister say, 'There's nothing to be upset about'?
What was Mimi's next small step?
Listen to different answers. Ask why. Children may discuss the characters rather than private experiences.
8. Try an activity
Draw one discovery
and one next step.
Draw three boxes: what happened, what I noticed, and one thing to try next. You can use Mimi's story rather than a personal experience.
Choose a small task and record one discovery. No stars or rankings are needed.
9. For grown-ups
Read aloud, discuss and try a small activity.
Stories and exercises: BlessFu
Illustrations: AI-assisted
Full references and guidance are in the companion booklet.
Persistence must not mean pushing through exhaustion or danger. Do not promise that effort guarantees winning. Stopping or asking for help can be the right choice.
Next we will practice paying attention to one small thing.
Story and references
Teaching theme reference: Matt Lindén, SEE Learning: Understanding Our Emotions, Study Buddhism, on realistic self-acceptance and responding to setbacks. This is a general educational reference, not scripture. The plane story, dialogue and activities are original BlessFu work and are not an endorsed SEE Learning lesson.
https://studybuddhism.com/en/essentials/universal-values/see-learning-understanding-our-emotions
Next we will practice paying attention to one small thing.