Bringing Meditation into Your Family’s Routine is a Worthwhile Resolution.
It’s a new year, according to the construct of our human-made 12-month Gregorian calendar. However, it is not just a new wall or desk calendar that marks the beginning of a calendar. A new year starts when Earth has made one orbit around the Sun. This takes roughly 365 days, so on the last day of December, we are at the same location around the sun as last year.
New Year’s resolutions are a ritual that began a long time ago. They involve making promises to the Babylonian gods during their New Year festival (Akita). The promises included repaying debts and returning borrowed items for good fortune. The practice evolved with the Romans. They made promises for good conduct to Janus, the god of beginnings. Later, medieval knights renewed chivalry vows. Buddhist New Year traditions vary by region. They center on purification, reflection, and merit-making. These traditions feature temple visits for offerings, meditation, and acts of generosity.
Most modern-age personal New Year’s resolutions start with an honest intention to change or renew. Unfortunately, they end within a couple of months due to a lack of motivation. It’s no surprise that most renewal programs are 6 to 8 weeks in length. That seems to be about the amount of time many people commit to their New Year’s resolutions.
Why is that? I believe it is because we feel external pressure. This urge comes after holiday seasons filled with heightened emotions. We are tired and need a break. But we don’t have to wait for the calendar to change. We can commit to improving our lives now. Each morning, the sun rises to another 24 hours of opportunity and possibilities. We can wake up each day, meditate on what we are grateful for, what we wish to welcome into our life and proceed on a new path ahead.
Meditation is a daily practice that can benefit your life with improved focus and attention to what matters. Meditation brings more relaxation and satisfaction in day-to-day activities. To make changes takes willingness, attention, and practice. Meditation is called a “practice” for good reason. It takes repetition to make it part of our schedule, just like an exercise routine. And also, like an exercise routine, we need results to motivate us to continue.
The reasons for bringing mindfulness meditation (also called Vipassana meditation) into your family’s life are well researched and proven.
- Families learn how present-moment mindfulness awareness can bring relaxation and social-emotional well-being into the home.
- Children learn that mindfulness helps them observe thoughts, sensations, and feelings.
- Mindfulness is a way to feel good about yourself in each moment and it settles the nervous system in the process.
- Parents model what it looks like to be confident yet relaxed; to be happy and at ease, while accepting that life is always changing. We can choose a “redo” each moment and each day.
- Families build strong bonds through a shared activity; the time spent together is an investment in compassionate relationship-building.
You or your family can learn more about bringing mindfulness and meditation into your daily routine. Mindful Frontiers provides many opportunities for that. We offer online courses and guided meditations. You can also find articles such as this monthly column. We are here to share the practices that bring positivity and improved mental health. These are beneficial to individuals, families, organizations, and classrooms.
Anne-Marie Emanuelli is the founder and Creative Director of Mindful Frontiers LLC, a Benefit Corporation (B-Corp) based in Taos, New Mexico, dedicated to promoting community wellness through mindfulness. We offer individuals, families, schools, and organizations a variety of mindfulness and meditation tools designed to support and nurture positive social-emotional growth. Our mission is to “welcome a mindful future, one present moment at a time,” guiding people towards greater awareness, emotional resilience, and a deeper connection with themselves and others. Anne-Marie is a certified meditation leader and labyrinth facilitator, with over 25 years of experience practicing meditation. Mindful Frontiers can be found on the Insight Timer app, YouTube, and at our website, MindfulFrontiers.net.
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