The practice of being mindful invites us to notice our internal and external experiences from one moment to the next. Through regular practice, we can tune into our emotions, thoughts, physical sensations and ways of interacting with ourselves and others. We become students of our own experiences. We can learn to work with our breath, body and sound as a way of connecting with the present moment and learn to settle our nervous systems during times of stress.
Heart-centered practices show us how to cultivate compassion, empathy, forgiveness, gratitude and love for ourselves and others. We can strengthen self-regulation and focused attention. We can teach our students how to settle their reactivity, creating space to identify and name what they’re experiencing, make thoughtful, compassionate decisions and support building resilience. All of these skills support healthy relationships and engaged learning.
As teachers, when we nurture our own mindful awareness, we become more available to support our children and model what we're asking of them. In being present for my students, I can provide authentic support and model my own mindful awareness in real time. As we know, the human experience can be complex. This can be true for children as well. I notice that when a student is worked up, it is much more difficult for them to pay attention, take in new information, recall things they've previously learned and relate to others in a skillful way. When I look closely, I can also see these qualities in myself. It's okay to let our students see that we're human and model our practice in real time. We can do this while holding a safe space for them to learn and grow.
The practice begins with us. Let's begin!