Sunday is spiritual day.
In a little book called “Teaching Meditation to Children” the author describes how he helps children (ages 3-8) learn to meditate – how to focus their minds so they aren’t confused or distracted by all the things going on at the same time.
“The “Why Meditate?” project
“Materials needed:
-Glass jar with lid (baby food jars work well)
-Water
-Dirt
“Our brains can be as muddy as the water in the jar. Muddy with sadness, anger worry, etc. Meditation helps us clear our minds. Just as the jar of muddy water sits and clears, meditation will help us deal with our muddy thoughts.Explanation:
“After the jar has been shaken up, the water becomes muddy and turbulent; this represents the mind with all of its discursive thoughts and anxieties. After the jar sits (meditates) for a moment, the discursions begin to separate from the water (mind) and sink to the bottom thus making the water clear and calm…the discursive thought (mud) haven’t vanished, but the mind (water) has found a way to not be fully clouded by them.” – Matt Barr, Teaching Meditation to Children.
The jar pictured above was just shaken up again, and it needs to meditate. Er, sit.
I’m putting my jar next to my computer so I can watch it clear up. You?
P.S. In a related piece just published today, “Slow Down Multitaskers, and Don’t Read in Traffic” the New York Times shows the dangers of a mind clouded by trying to do too much at once…(PDF here in case.)
Hhhhmmm, cool visual. What is it that we’d like to distill down out of our minds in order to go about the business of doing business with crystal clarity? Well, there’s the fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of picking up the phone, etc.
But what stands out to me even more is the need to settle out all the busy work that usurps so much of our time and energy — the endlessly drifting dunes of paper, the daily fires to fight, etc. Literally clear the cluttered decks, err desk, as well as the busy-ness that clouds our crazed brains, so we can relax ourselves into exhilarating yet soothing ‘flight time’, i.e. asking some people, clearly and concisely, if they know anyone who might like to know about our products. Aaah, how simple and calming is that? — sssshhhh, I think it’s working here…
Dianne
What a great idea for adults. I need to get a baby jar from my grandson.
I am in a group that is currently masterminding Napolean Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich” on chapter at a time. This has been an incredible experience to just quiet the mind and focus on yourself.
Kind of the same concept as the little brown jar. Whatever works to develop yourself so that you can be at your best and stop long enough to get back in touch with your dreams and hopes that you had as children.
We are all so busy multi-tasking and trying to please everyone, we have become a robotic society thinking busier is better for everyone.
Consider children….. in my town, they are involved in so many activities, many children rarely have time to just play, be with friends or quiet their minds and relax unless the parents are very concious of creating opportunity for them to “just be kids”.
We do the same thing to ourselves and then wonder why we “burn out”. I admit I like to be busy, but I also like my “down time” as well.
Take time to dream and allow your children time to dream as well.
Brenda Bunney
http://MLMSuccessBunney.com
http://BrendaBunneyMLM.com
brendabunney@yahoo.com
I Love it how spectacular to be taught to meditate at an early age.
How different would life be if we could be arware young and use the tools to transfrom how we function.
Clearing the mind has allowed me to calm the mob and let God in, and has afforded me the most personal growth in my life.
To have had that gift so young makes my heart warm!
Appreciating you,
Billy Mitchell
Wellness Coach
http://perfectbodyshapecoach.com
The book “” REL=”nofollow”>The Breakout Principle” explains the physiology behind meditation and how it can help you have flashes of inspiration. (We all need some, right?!)
The key is to study or ponder something to the point of mental saturation, and then do something that does not require thought (meditation, walking, knitting, etc.). This process has been shown to release chemicals in your body that helps your brain figure out the things you’ve been working on.
— Walter Reade (from Appleton, WI)
Walter@NMC
http://www.NuOpportunity.com
Hi Kim
I can relate to this subject and know first hand how clearing my mind will change almost anything in my life. I work with animals everyday and have been testing things like this for many years. I’ve never had any formal training on how to work with animals, it’s all in my head. If I go into a kennel with a dog thinking “this dog has an attitude” he will have an attitude with me. If I clear my mind, approach the dog thinking this is a sweet dog, he is very sweet for me. I really don’t care what others say about this because I know how it’s worked for me. I’ve never had an animal bite me, never been scared or even theatened. It’s not chance, it’s my mindset and energy. For my safety and the animals I can’t afford to have my mind muddy. I’m starting to realize I run my networking business the same way I’ve always working with animals. Bless these animals for giving me so much knowledge.
I don’t need the jar to keep these thoughts in my mind but I will use it for my son.
Kim thanks for this message.
Meditation in our business model is to put all thoughts aside except the ones that get us towards our goal. Our goals are individual so the thoughts can’t be duplicated by others. Though we can work together.
Today I need to put aside the distractions that will prevent me from doing anything with my business. It is a new day with new challenges and I need to work today so I can be one step farther in my goals tomorrow.
Nancy Carlson
http://www.perfectmombusiness.com
It’s great for kids (and adults sometimes) to have a visual reminder of these kinds of things.
Whenever I’m stressed, I sit quietly and go to my perfect moment in my head.
I’m going to get jars for the entire family.
Great idea.
Roxanne Green
I LOVE my boss because she is ME!!!
Kim.
What a lovely gift. Thanks so much for this reminder to JUST sit and ALLOW my mind to clear and healing and creative thoughts to surface to help me in whatever I need to feel or do.For children to be given this little jar is a priceless gift.
Thanks Walter for the book idea.
Kim, you constantly delight and amaze me with your insight and creativity and ENERGY.
As always, a heartfelt thanks for everything.
Mary