"When she was younger, she wasn't that into reading and that was like a huge deal for me. I thought: "I'm such a reader. My daughter doesn't love to read." She's still not a big reader, but it's not hampering her in any way. She's blossoming in fifty other ways, but when I get caught in that story, "She's not like me. She's not..." - that's when I'm suffering. So I settle back into trusting, and think: "Oh, she's becoming who she is. Let her be that."
-Diana Winston
Meditation is touted as being a cure-all for everything from anxiety to depression to addictions. But is it possible that all this is too good to be true?
In this episode, meditation teacher - and former Buddhist nun! - Diana Winston guides us through what we know of the research on meditation that's relevant to parents. It turns out that the quality of much of this research isn't amazing, but this may not matter to you if you're thinking of starting a meditation practice because the opportunity cost (a few minutes a day) is so low and the potential benefits are so high.
We walk through a basic meditation that you can do anywhere, and no - it doesn't involve sitting cross-legged with your thumb and first finger held in a circle and saying 'ommmmmm....'.
I was skeptical about meditation too - until I tried it. Perhaps it might help you as well?
Ready to break free from the cycle of triggered reactions and conflict in your parenting journey?
If you want to:
😟 Be triggered less often by your child’s behavior,
😐 React from a place of compassion and empathy instead of anger and frustration,
😊 Respond to your child from a place that’s aligned with your values rather than reacting in the heat of the moment,
the Taming Your Triggers workshop will help you make this shift.
Join us to transform conflict into connection and reclaim peace in your parenting journey.
Join the waitlist and we'll let you know when doors reopen. Click the banner to learn more!
Jump to highlights
02:36 Introducing Diana Winston
03:39 Defining Mindfulness
05:25 Distinguishing between mindfulness and meditation
06:26 How can mindfulness benefit me?
08:05 Self-hatred as a Western concept
12:27 The practice of mindfulness rooted in religion and cultural appropriation
13:57 The research on mindfulness
17:27 Why is it so hard to study mindfulness?
19:33 Mindfulness vs science as tools of observation
21:26 The benefits of mindfulness to parents and children
28:04 Improving parent-child relationships through mindfulness
30:27 Working in mindfulness practices in the context of communities
35:52 Practice mindfulness now with this quick walkthrough
42:46 Sit Still and It Will Hurt Eventually
Useful links:
Taming Your Triggers Masterclass
Books and other resources:
