"*Simply acknowledging a previously held attitude or thought is often all we need to let it go." —* Lululemon, 2021

<aside> 👉 Use at the start of the day, a lesson, or at staff meetings.

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Clearings were what led me to try to incorporate mindfulness strategies in the classroom. They are simple to implement and don’t need to take much time. Still, they effectively regulate students and foster connection and empathy in the classroom and among staff. The main idea of a clearing is to verbalize and let go of any thoughts or feelings preventing us from being fully present in the moment. Lululemon’s rationale for clearings is that “sometimes we hold onto thoughts or attitudes for such a long time, they can become hard to see. When you let something go, you now have the space to move into something new, something that serves you, and others, more fully.”

At Lululemon, we initiate a clearing at the start of a shift or a meeting simply by asking, “Do you have anything to clear?” However, you will need to lay down some groundwork before students and staff respond to that question.

<aside> 💡 To start a clearing:

1. Ask if anyone has anything they need to get off their chest to be fully present.
2. Guide younger students by asking those having a great day to put their hand up, then ask if anyone would like to share why.
3. Once you’ve heard a few of the great day stories, ask students who are having a bad day to put their hands up and repeat the process. </aside>

It is important to teach participants that clearings are a space to acknowledge and let go, but not a space to vent, problem-solve, or direct blame (that last one can be difficult for young students). A clearing might be something like “I didn’t sleep well last night, so I need a little extra patience from everyone today,” or “I am seeing a friend tonight and my excitement has me a little preoccupied.” It will take practice, and responses won’t be as brief or direct for a long time. For students, expect clearings to be more storytelling or sharing for the first while until they get into the groove. After some time, you may find that students approach you to clear something before you’ve even prompted them!