The Mindfulness Movement is helping moms everywhere with the challenges of the Digital Age.
MINDFULNESS IS ABOUT … SELF-AWARENESS
The deterioration of ATTENTION SKILLS of young children and adolescents may be helped by integrating, ancient Eastern mindfulness practices with Western teaching methods in schools. Constant distractions are impeding the ability of today’s students to adequately learn academic subjects to compete successfully in the 21st century global workforce.
Students from countries like
China and India learn concentration skills at a very early age through mindfulness as a daily practice to strengthen mental health, and Tai Chi/Qigong or Yoga to strengthen physical health.
Emile Zola’s beautiful painting and the words, ‘I am here to live out loud’ express the essential mindfulness skill… to live with self awareness.
But, the constant distractions of multi-tasking and living in a multimedia culture has created a basic inability for both children and adults to focus the mind and to pay attention to what they are experiencing in the moment.
When the Read Aloud Program started a couple of weeks ago,
I wondered why one of my students was in the program. He seemed so bright and curious! On the second day I noticed his attention wandering all over the place, and by the 3rd day I was convinced that before he could really improve his reading skills, he needed to strengthen his attention skills through mindfulness techniques.
Education and mindfulness meditation are about developing the MIND.
It is about both: learning to be smart, and how to respond to life situations with skill.
- It is about understanding that pouting, arguing, bullying, acting out, etc. are automatic reactions of someone who has not cultivated emotional life skills of the MIND to respond to situations with clarity, discernment and discipline. With awareness, these ingrained habits can be avoided.
- It is about developing the MIND to eat slowly, paying attention to the flavors and aromas for pure pleasure. With awareness of when the body has had enough, the skilled mind will avoid compulsively eating more.
- It is about developing the MIND to recognize when one has enough toys, clothes, stuff. With awareness, one can avoid impulsively buying more than what is needed and at the same time, save mother earth.
So what is mindfulness?
It is MIND POWER, applying precise techniques for slowing down, and calming the MIND, to regain the energy needed to focus on doing the right thing– just like a computer is able to operate at full capacity when it has been fully recharged.
Think about when you made the ‘best’ important life choices – was your energy drained because you were tired, angry, fearful, filled with anxiety?
Or, were you well rested, and calm with a very clear mind?
Home Schooling is the perfect place for mom as teacher and role model to practice mindfulness.
Yes, schools are beginning to include mindfulness meditation. And, moms are also learning the techniques to model and continue the practice at home.
When mom is calm and peaceful – the whole house radiates joy. THIS IS GOOD FENG SHUI!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu
The first step is always the hardest.
Call Nadine @ 510-525-1116 to make it easier.