2020 Vision

It’s 2020. Are you in as much disbelief as I am? For me, it’s that last little reminder that my 30s are beyond me and my 40s are full speed ahead. Ahh! My heart used to race when I thought about the age of forty and I’d quickly push the thought out of my head.  But as I repeat “twenty-twenty” over in my head, two words keep ringing: clear vision. This is the year to welcome clarity. To welcome clear, 20/20 visions of what experience lies in front of you. Not what you think is there or what you wish was there, but what is truly, authentically there...no matter what age we may be.

Often - without intention - our thoughts hijack the present moment. They pass judgment on the situation or make unfair assumptions. Our emotions then begin to overshadow the present and our mind begins to race away from what lies in front of us; the presence. And before we know it, an entire story has been told that is completely different than what the experience was intended to be.

As we move full speed ahead into this new year, this new decade, I welcome you to consider the mantra of “twenty-twenty.” I wonder what could happen to our relationships if we commit to starting with this clear vision communication with our children. For example, when they come to us with a concern, we apply the STOP method as adults (which works wonders for kids!). We...
 
*Stop what we are doing and turn to our child
*Take a breath - and breath in “twenty” and out “twenty” as our mantra
*Observe what is happening. What emotions are they displaying? Who and what is around them? Does it match the words they are expressing?
*Proceed without assumption or judgment of what they need, but proceed in response to what is authentically there

Mindful communication can be challenging in our busy world. We are often trying to accomplish too much all at once that we miss out on the intended message or lesson that the presence brings. What could have been a 20/20 experience turns into a 40/88...or worse. However, it doesn't have to be this way. We have the power to change the experiential murkiness into precision. Is it easy? Of course not, but think about the ripple effect of such authentic communication and presence…

Wishing you peace, prosperity and presence in 2020 - Happy New Year!

XO
Christy Lynn

P.S. Want to learn more about Mindful Parenting? A new online course is going to be released this month (January 2020) to support the quest towards living with more presence, equanimity, compassion, emotional regulation and attention. 

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