I think this is a wonderful story and thank you Paul Humphreys for sharing it so generously. In order to add a little more consistency with the PB Process and the Language of Safety, I hope Paul won't mind the suggested edits. I really enjoy using it during PB training especially when talking about Feelings – Thoughts – Behaviour. I then invite people to choose a button from my collection to take away as a reminder that we are responsible for our own 'buttons'.
Sally Ann Hart
Billy the Robot
Billy is a robot, a big new shiny Robot. He has a set of buttons on his chest. When the children push the green one he laughs, when they push the orange one he cries, when they push the blue one he (is) feels sad and when they push the big red one he (gets) feels very, very angry. The children laughed and laughed as they pushed the buttons and Billy did his tricks, first sad, then angry, laughing then crying.
At first Billy enjoyed these games, he liked playing with the children and (making) seeing them laugh and doing exactly what they wanted. He had only just come from the shop and this was much more fun. After a while however Billy began to wish he could choose when to (be) feel sad, and when to (be) feel happy.
So one night Billy got a screwdriver from the garage and took the shiny plate with the big buttons off his chest. He then carefully turned it round so that the buttons were on the inside where only Billy could find them. When the children got home from school they (were) felt surprised to find Billy's buttons had gone. But they soon found out that Billy was much more fun when he chose to (be) feel sad or happy. And Billy was feeling very, very happy now because no one ever made him feel sad, or happy or cry again because he decided what mood to be in because he was in charge of his own buttons.
Are you?
Who pushes your buttons?
