Give your child the gift of inner peace

We are all well informed now a days of the importance of daily exercise and good nutrition as a way to support a healthy productive life but more often than not, nourishing and supporting the mind as a way of creating wellness is overlooked.

I began practicing meditation daily in my early forties and I have to say, it has changed my life. The profound effect it has had on my health and my state of mind is nothing short of life changing. Once upon a time, I was easily overwhelmed. I lived in a rainbow of chaos. After practicing meditation daily now for some twelve years, I can happily say, I have found my calm amongst the chaos.

My son was ten years old when I began meditating. Like any normal mother, I was committed to ensuring he was happy, healthy and most importantly loved. Healthy food, regular exercise, play, education, boundaries, these were the foundations that I felt would ground my son and support him as an adult. If I could turn back time, I would definitely have introduced one more practice into his daily routine as a child. I would have gifted my beautiful son back then with the key that unlocks our souls, our minds and our hearts – that is meditation.

“ If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place “- Lao Tzu

I believe that if you teach your children to meditate, you are giving them one of the most effective ways to change their lives. In a world that is filled with stress, anxiety and pressure, why are we not focusing on teaching our children meditation as a way of coping? Teaching them at an early age how to quiet the mind, breathe and experience real inner peace could change the quality of their entire lives.

Our precious children learn from us. They really pick up on their parents and role models behavior, language, habits and lifestyles. If we can teach our children at a young age to ground themselves and manage their emotions, if we can create a new culture, one based on peace, we could quite literally change the world.

There is an enormous body of research emerging today that supports teaching our children meditation and mindfulness. However, those of us who practice meditation and mindfulness daily already know the benefits.

We need not refer to the research. We only need to look inside, listen to our hearts and minds and feel the peace that accompanies these practices to know that we must pass on these gifts to our children.

Studies of childhood meditation show us that the benefits include -

Stress relief

Reduced anxiety levels

Better mental focus

Increased self-esteem

Improvements in focused attention

The ability to regulate themselves as well as their emotions

Improved sleep

Calmness

If you think about it, we spend an abundance of time ensuring our children eat right, exercise and are well educated - investments that offer enormous returns. If you consider the benefits associated with introducing even just one minute of meditation daily to your children’s lives, you will be preparing them for a lifetime of priceless rewards – peace, calm and oneness.

“Meditate. Let the light of the Heart engulf you.” - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda)

I never considered teaching my son to meditate when I began my meditation journey. He is now in his twenties and although I encourage him to this day to incorporate meditation into his daily routine, I realize had I introduced him to the practice when he was much younger, I would have given him an even better foundation for managing his life.

We get all sorts of parenting advice when we have children. There is an endless stream of what we should and should not do. Personally, when I was raising my son, I was inundated with well-meaning advice. Some of it helpful and some of it, not so much!

Now that I have raised my son and he is grounded, well rounded, responsible, fit and healthy and is my greatest achievement to date, I feel I qualify to pass on some parenting advice of my own.

So, here is my advice -“Teach your children to meditate! “

Breathe again

We all have the ability to feel calm. We can do it at any given moment. Yet, so many parents struggle to get their children to calm down when they are feeling overwhelmed. Breathing is something we all do, and something to which we rarely pay much attention. Focusing on breathing is one of the most powerful ways to calm your mind, body and spirit. Take a few minutes every day to relax with your children and consciously breathe. Three, slow, deep beautiful breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth will instantly reconnect and calm the mind, body and spirit. Teach your children to take three deep breaths whenever they are feeling overwhelmed. You know often just getting back to the basics and taking a holistic, simple approach to wellness can bring huge benefits.

Stillness

Create an area in your home where you can sit and be still with your children for one minute each day. Place a matt and some cushions on the floor. This little spot should evoke peace and stimulate the senses so go wild and burn scented candles and oils in this space.

Get your child to close their eyes and focus on their breathing whilst sitting cross legged on the floor in this area. To begin with, allocate just one minute daily to this practice. You can always increase it over time. Get your child comfortable with being silent and still every single day.

Visualize

Perhaps a bedtime story could be replaced with a beautiful guided meditation. You can take your child on a magical, peaceful journey. Get your child to close their eyes and then gently guide them to visualize in their mind’s eye your special adventure.

Maybe you can go on a magical walk through an enchanted, peaceful forest together or perhaps a ride in a hot air balloon exploring the world is more enticing. Whatever you choose, guided imagery is a perfect way for your children to find peace after a hectic day.

Mindfulness

Introduce your children to really experiencing mindfulness. Play games that stimulate their senses. Get them to close their eyes and taste certain foods, all the while guessing what they are eating. Get them to recognize certain scents, from food to flowers, encourage them to stop and smell the roses – literally!

When children learn to feel calm, to feel peace, to feel present, they will live their entire lives with calmness, in peace and with presence.

Within each of us is a light. It shines brighter when we experience inner peace. The greatest gift you can give your children is the ability to shine so bright, that they will always be able to see from the heart.