A growing body of scientific research tells us that mindfulness and meditation develop a set of life skills that allow children, teens and adults to relate to what’s happening within and around them with more wisdom and compassion.
When we focus on an experience in the present moment (for example, the feeling of breathing, the sounds in a room or another sensation) our minds tend to quiet, and a space opens up, allowing us to see what’s going on more clearly.
As they become aware of what’s happening in their minds and bodies, children and young people learn to use sense impressions (“I’m feeling restless,” for instance, or “I have butterflies in my stomach”) as cues to stop and reflect before speaking or acting out. Through this process they become less reactive and more conscious of what’s going on within and around them.
This space also allows them an opportunity to reframe how they view a situation and rather than focusing on the result, they can choose to speak and act in a different way, or respond to the situation with more wisdom and compassion, both towards themselves and others.
“You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Email: jenny@jennyjonescounselling.co.uk
Telephone: 07900843447
