What is this thing Mindfulness? Is it for you and your child? And what does it really mean to practice Mindfulness?
It is such an interesting time, with the wave of Mindfulness sweeping over us… with organisations and schools implementing mindfulness programs, with apps, cd’s and the media promoting it… so it might be an opportune time to sit back and let the mindfulness wave wash over you also!
Mindfulness very simply put is being aware. One aspect is self awareness, of body, mind and emotions. This is a practice of attentively watching or noticing what is happening in your whole self, at any present moment, from a loving detached place… a place of compassion and non-judgement, a flowing free place, a place of simply allowing your thoughts, feelings, sensations to be, and even to let them go. The other part is a practice of being present and noticing what is going on outside of you, you know, stopping to smell the roses!
The result of this practice is raising your self awareness, which in itself has many benefits mentally, emotionally and physically. But also when we are mindful, we become more in-tune, joyfully present and perhaps even more loving towards self and others.
When we mindfully meditate, we give time to our self to pause, to connect, relax, and receive many wonderful healing benefits that we are hearing more about as science studies this ancient art.
Mindfulness is quite an active process of observation, however it can lead to Meditation and can go hand in hand with it. Meditation is that still place of peace, awareness, love and clarity. Once we notice and are aware of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, then we might move beyond that into the stillness.
So how do we teach mindfulness to young children? Are they not already quite present? Already having those times when they are engrossed in an activity and are very in the moment with a single point of focus. Mindfully and in the moment noticing how a toy operates, building with Lego, creating a drawing or painting, hearing or reading a story, interacting with a pet?
Perhaps it might not be so much about teaching them mindfulness, but rather supporting them to continue it, fostering it, and taking it a step further and making it fun and interactive. Guiding them to notice their body and how amazing it is! Guiding them to notice their feelings. Giving them a feeling vocabulary, so at any given time they can start to express how they are feeling… happy, mad, sad, scared, confused, upset… and then they can identify these feelings later, name them, notice and feel them, accept them even. We can validate that what they are already doing, is AWESOME! This will see them become more adept at self-regulating, and at self-soothing.
We can foster a child’s innate skill of being present with guided imagery / visualisation, moving meditations, grounding, drawing meditations, breathing techniques! Weaving mindfulness into these experiences in an engaging way and then leading the child into Meditation. Again planting the seed and empowering the child with a valuable skill that they can put into play as they grow and evolve in this sometimes detached and scattered world!
Many of my Meditations on The Shop Page use mindfulness in a playful way, so please if this interests you then head on over and check them out!
Have a wonderful present and aware day!
Blessings
Julie
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