As a parent of two beautiful children aged 9 and 12, I find that my life is often a whirlwind of school runs, homework, meals, and endless laundry. Amidst the chaos, I also work as a life coach and maintain a meditation practice of 15 years. I am writing this article to share a transformative practice that has not only enriched my personal life but also improved my parenting – the practice of mindfulness.
Mindfulness, as defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), is "the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally." It is about being completely attuned to the present, fully engaged with the moment at hand. This simple yet powerful practice can bring profound changes to our lives and the lives of our children.
Mindfulness, like any skill, can be learned and cultivated over time. As Sharon Salzberg, a notable mindfulness teacher, rightly says, "Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it." As parents, integrating mindfulness into our daily lives offers us an opportunity to model this practice for our children, impacting their development positively.
Our attention is one of the most valuable gifts we can give to our children. "Pay attention to where you are going because without meaning you might get nowhere," as A.A. Milne wisely pointed out. Mindfulness helps us guide our attention intentionally, allowing us to be fully present with our children, listening to their hopes, fears, and dreams with an open heart and mind.
As we increasingly live in a world dominated by screens and social media, the risk of our children developing unhealthy dependencies is real. By practicing mindfulness, we can enhance our ability to regulate our emotions and reactions, reducing the likelihood of resorting to screen time as an escape. Moreover, by modeling mindful living, we guide our children towards developing healthier coping strategies.
Mindfulness also creates space for healing, growth, and connection. Earl Nightingale once noted, "Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality." This reinforces the importance of how we choose to invest our time. The practice of mindfulness nourishes our subconscious mind with tranquility, empathy, and clarity, fostering emotional resilience and positive connections with our loved ones.
Mindfulness extends beyond isolated moments; it permeates our entire lives. C.S. Lewis beautifully captured this concept when he wrote, "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." Mindfulness teaches us and our children to live fully within those sixty minutes, cultivating an appreciation for the present and reducing the lure of screens and social media.
As parents, we want the best for our children. We hope to raise them as resilient, empathetic, and contented individuals. By integrating mindfulness into our lives, we guide our children towards a healthier mental and emotional landscape, one breath at a time.
So, dear parents, I invite you to explore the transformative power of mindfulness. Experience it firsthand, and share it with your children. In this way, we can collectively shape a future where our attention and time serve as anchors, grounding us and our children in the beautiful reality of the present moment.
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