Spring begins next week! Such excitement as we ring in the second quarter of the year marked by the season's call to renewal and growth. Ready to make some internal and external renewals? Next week I delivery another mini workshop for NYC's Department of Ed and this time it's on this very topic of growth and renewal. Every week you've been reading these messages and it's such a great way to build self awareness ... which of course builds mindfulness. Another great action to take in order to flex that self awareness muscle is the practice of GRATITUDE. Studies have shown that "gratitude is most strongly associated with mental health [and that] cultivating [this] personal attribute fortifies us during times of adversity and emotional turmoil and leads to greater happiness and resilience." With this and many other sources of information out there, you don't need to search hard to read and learn about the power of gratitude -most especially how to incorporate it into our families. When we start embracing and teaching our kids how to be thankful and gracious, the transformative impact is palpable. Jeffrey Froh, PsyD, an assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York conducted research with a group of middle school students on this. He asked one group "to list up to five things they were grateful for every day for two weeks, while a second group recorded daily hassles and a third only completed a survey. "The gratitude group experienced a jump in optimism and overall well-being," reports Froh. "Furthermore, they were more satisfied with school even three weeks later." Likewise, a Harris Interactive survey of more than 1,200 kids between the ages of 8 and 18 found that those who were grateful for what they had were also more generous, even if they were fairly materialistic." The practice of gratitude is most certainly at the higher levels of Mindful & Conscious Parenting as we move up and away from the anchor of the ego. The sheer fact that GRATITUDE improves our ability to make deeper connections, increases energy levels, promotes a positive mindset and decreases stress (just to name a few), is enough to shake us out of our status quo and start springing forward in ways that will simply have us and our children feeling good. Get to know and access your higher levels of Mindful & Conscious Parenting. What's your "C"(Consciousness) -Factor? Ask yourself, how would things in your home be different with more language and actions of GRATITUDE?
"My tribe time was an effective way to discuss parenting styles and learning where our parenting stems from. With a focus on mindfulness, we used each other to come up with specific tools, strategies and build awareness that enhanced the relationships we desired with our child(ren). What's great is that each week is structured clearly with personally identified objectives while offering a safe space to share and gather input from other parents on the journey to more connection, communication and growth." - Mimi (mom & stepmom to 14, 3 and 11 month old) A unique entry level opportunity to work directly with me via a 5-part series that explores five key aspects of HOW to apply mindfulness into parenting.
"Sandra has given me concrete tools to use in order to become a more mindful parent. Instead of reacting immediately, I gained more control over my response and the things that get me triggered. Everyone should take her series! Parenting is the most important job wehave!" -Gretchen (kids 6 and 3 years old)
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