📖 INTRODUCTION

Many children struggle silently with anger, emotional sensitivity, insecurity, attention-seeking behavior, and difficulty expressing their true feelings.

Sometimes children who appear polite and well-behaved in front of adults may carry frustration, loneliness, stress, or emotional confusion internally.

Without realizing it, those emotions can become aggression, irritability, bullying, or emotional outbursts toward friends and family members.

This meditation testimonial shares the story of Hyun-woo S., a middle school student who once struggled with anger, emotional sensitivity, arrogance, and pretending to be someone different depending on the situation.

Although adults praised him as a model student, he often hurt classmates, mocked others, and behaved very differently around friends.

Through meditation and self-reflection beginning at a young age, he gradually discovered the emotional roots behind his behavior — including his deep desire for praise, fear of losing approval, insecurity, suppressed emotions, and sensitivity caused by childhood struggles.

As he learned to reflect on himself instead of reacting emotionally, his relationships, personality, gratitude, and emotional stability slowly changed.

This meditation testimonial beautifully shows how self-reflection, emotional awareness, and meditation can help children and teenagers overcome anger, insecurity, sensitivity, and relationship struggles.

💬 Meditation Testimonial: “I Was a Sensitive and Two-Faced Kid”

How This Meditation Changed My Relationships and Myself

By Hyun-woo S. | Middle School Student

😞 “I Became Arrogant Without Realizing It”

When I entered elementary school, I was known as a model student.

Teachers and adults constantly praised me.

But by the time I reached third grade, I gradually became arrogant and began turning into a child who didn’t know how to be grateful.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back now, there were quite a few kids who cried or were hurt because of me.

I fought physically with friends almost every day, and I often mocked them by targeting their weaknesses.

I was only around ten years old, so I truly did not understand what was wrong with my behavior.

😢 “My Mother Cried Because of the Person I Was Becoming”

In front of adults, I acted like a perfect student.

But toward my friends, I behaved cruelly.

I was completely two-faced.

My mother even cried because of me.

Right before I became so twisted that no one could control me anymore, I was introduced to this meditation.

I was ten years old.

I began practicing during a youth meditation camp, and as I reflected on myself, I realized:

I was actually a very strange kid.

The people I secretly criticized and hated in my mind were, in reality, myself.

I constantly told others:

“Why are you so sensitive?”
“Why are you always irritated?”
“Why are you so inconsiderate?”

But in truth, I was describing myself.

And gradually, I began understanding why I had behaved that way for so long.

🌱 “The Real Reason I Acted That Way”

All my life, I had constantly wanted praise from people around me — and I usually received it.

Most people treated me kindly.

Because of that, I became afraid of losing their approval.

So I constantly hid my true feelings deep inside.

As those emotions built up, the frustration eventually exploded toward friends — the only people around whom I didn’t feel pressured to pretend.

During meditation, I especially discarded memories connected to wanting praise.

For example:

• Pretending to refuse gifts so adults would think I was mature
• Showing off in front of friends
• Trying to appear smarter or better than others

As I let go of those memories, I began feeling deeply embarrassed.

I also felt sorry toward classmates who had still treated me kindly even though I behaved so badly.

Those “pictures of the mind” had naturally shaped my personality and caused pain to the people around me.

💭 “I Learned to Reflect on Myself Instead of Reacting With Anger”

As I continued practicing, I realized there was another reason behind my behavior.

I had been physically weak since childhood.

The memories of constantly being sick gradually turned me into a highly sensitive person who became angry at others whenever even small things felt difficult.

But then I thought:

There are many people who are physically struggling and still smile warmly at the world.

I also realized that I didn’t truly know how to feel grateful toward others.

Even words like:

“Thank you”
“I’m grateful”

were often just formalities meant to make me look good rather than sincere expressions from the heart.

The reason I became someone who “couldn’t feel gratitude” was partly because I had received so much from my family and the people around me without ever truly appreciating it.

So I worked on discarding that mindset as well.

🌿 “I Became Able to Show My Real Self”

If I still carried all those minds today, I think people around me would probably dislike me.

Thankfully, I’m no longer that person.

Of course, because I’m still going through puberty, I sometimes get irritated without realizing it.

But compared to before, I don’t explode as easily anymore.

Instead, I first try to reflect on and let go of myself.

Because of that, very few people now say that I have a bad temper.

The biggest change is that I can now comfortably show my real self to adults instead of pretending.

As a result, conversations with adults have become much easier and more natural.

In the past, teachers often wrote comments like:

“He is somewhat sensitive.”

on my report cards.

But now they write:

“He adapts well to school life and is active.”

I feel truly grateful that I encountered this meditation and was able to change.