Healthy Mind Space
  • Home
  • About
  • Coaching for K-4 Students
  • Educators
  • Parents
  • Resources
    • YouTube Mindful Minutes
    • Just Breathe
  • Connect
    • Calendar
    • Register + Shop >
      • Shop >
        • Women’s Athletic Tank
        • Women’s Casual Top
  • Blog

The power of emotional excuses

11/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
We all make them. Excuses. Especially when it comes to something for ourselves. This is written to my peeps. Yup, I said “peeps.” My tribe. My colleagues in the education industry. My - I’m just swimming enough to keep my head above water - fellow parents of young children.

Things are not easy right now. The daily grind is chaotic. Work is busy. Families are full of energy-because if your weather is anything like the weather here in Western NY, it’s been chilly and rainy for what feels like weeks, which means we are all a bit stir crazy!

BUT this is when we need to tune into ourselves the most. This is when we often have emotional reactions to things that are said to us. In the classroom, if students are short with us or are giving us attitudes, we may find ourselves mirroring a snarky response. When the kids are running in circles whining, “Mama, I want juice!” or “Daddy, I need my crayons!” and we are wondering where our sweet, well-mannered children have disappeared to, the simple tone of our response escalates out of pure annoyance. Or with our partners when they don’t get to unloading the dishes or changing over the laundry like you had asked help with, it’s flipping annoying. But, is the emotional reaction really worth the argument or hurt feelings that would likely follow? This is where the power of restraint - the power of mindful restraint - shines.

Pause.
Observe.
Restrain.
Breathe.
Respond.

How do you cultivate the superpower of recognizing when it’s time to pause, observe, restrain, breathe and respond? Just sit. Everyday. Start with 3 minutes, then treat yourself to 4...5...10 minutes a day. There is no wrong way to give yourself the power of a sit. Focus on your breath, or the sounds around you. Repeat a mantra to calm your mind. Over time, research has proven that your brain will begin physically changing for the better to help you see the big picture more clearly and with more empathy. (For more information on how this is possible, check out this article from Psychology Today)

And before you creatively respond with something along the lines of, “I just don’t have the time right now. The kids have basketball everynight, it's conference and report card time, the holidays are coming...” Pause and think about that response. Is that an emotional reaction to the idea-an anxious reaction? I might have to say so... So, let's regain power. Take emotion out of the excuse and picture yourself sitting in a quiet space. Can you see it? If so, you can do it. Commit to yourself. Commit to your “peeps.” It’s a win for all involved!





0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    the blog space

    Picture
    Picture
    ​I'm obsessed. This is fabulous. LOVE that you are doing this. The new way of being a student forces us to think outside the box and approach how we teach more dynamically.
    ~Derek, Father of 2 and Elementary School Principal


    Author

    Just a girl with a dream to collectively build a healthy mind space for children, while creating a healthier mind space for ourselves. 

    Picture

    Archives

    April 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    30 Day Challenge
    Adapt To Change
    Community
    Creative Activity
    Education
    Elementary
    Emotions
    Focus
    Health & Wellness
    Holiday
    Kids
    Kindness
    Language
    Love
    Mindfulness
    Mindful Parenting
    Mindful Schools Education
    Parenting
    Pause
    Prekindergarten
    Preschool
    Problem Solving
    Relationships
    School Violence
    Screen Time
    Self Care
    Social Emotional Learning
    Teach
    Technology
    Toddlers
    Wellness

    RSS Feed

    Copyright Healthy Mind Space 2019
Picture

Healthy Mind Space offers mindfulness coaching and workshops to professional educators, preschools & childcare centers, and families throughout the Rochester, NY area. By practicing mindfulness in our everyday lives, and through intentional interactions in our classrooms, I believe we can help kids develop a greater capacity for kindness, compassion, positivity, self-confidence and the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Picture

Copyright Healthy Mind Space 2019. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy

  • Home
  • About
  • Coaching for K-4 Students
  • Educators
  • Parents
  • Resources
    • YouTube Mindful Minutes
    • Just Breathe
  • Connect
    • Calendar
    • Register + Shop >
      • Shop >
        • Women’s Athletic Tank
        • Women’s Casual Top
  • Blog