Here I am talking about the importance of meditation and practicing mindfulness. I can hear it now. Should I teach my kids to meditate? And is it too early now?!
If you’ve started a meditation practice, you’ve probably started to feel better and notice some positive effects in your life, but don’t make meditation one more thing to do for yourselves or your children.
Between school, getting better than a 4.0 GPA, soccer practice and swim lessons, Sunday school and Hebrew school, taking MCAT prep courses while still in elementary school, let’s not add yet one more pressure.
Kids do not need us to teach them how to “be.” This they can teach us. Meditation is not something to do, but a practice of being – being with the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, and whatever else comes our way – and theirs.
I believe that meditation and mindfulness can be enormously helpful for children and adolescents, and such a practice would help them very much. Mindfulness meditation can teach children valuable skills of paying attention, concentration, managing emotions, and offer a whole host of other physiological and mental health benefits, yet if you want your children to be mindful, be a mindful parent. If you want your children to have a meditation practice, start and nurture one for yourself.
There are tens of millions of dollars spent each year researching and solving the “problem” of Jews leaving the “fold,” but it does not have to be so complicated – or costly. If you want your kids to be Jewish, be Jewish!
If you want your children to read from the Bible, read from the Bible. You can start today! “In the beginning” is Now!
If you want your children to believe in God (or at least not hate Him or Her), get to know God (and what’s not God) for yourself.
If You want your children to go to synagogue, go to synagogue.
If you want your children to identify as Jewish, nurture your own Jewish identity.
If you want your children to be Jewish, practice Judaism in the most meaningful and profound ways you know how for yourself.
If you want your children to practice meditation, just sit down. They just may join you!
As always, if you are interested in learning more about Jewish Mindfulness Meditation or how to create a more meaningful spiritual path for you and your loved ones, please make sure to sign up and click the “Stay Connected Now!” button below!
Adam Fogel
www.mindfuljudaism.com