Why is it the most important?
Why is it the
most important?
A Turbulent World of Chaos
Today, we live in a turbulent world of chaos, a non-friendly environment for children and youth. Violence has increased manifold, with high crime rates.
The society has changed from what it was. The way our children experience their childhood is very different from the way we lived ours.
Youngsters suffer from stress in school, due to high pressure in terms of academic performance, increased competition, societal expectations and peer pressure. They are also vulnerable to high distraction and unwanted exposure, because of extensive penetration of technology and gadgets, and easy access to internet and social media. Unhealthy, fast and hectic lifestyles add to the stress.
It does not help that today’s families offer low emotional support to their young ones due to changes in the family structure, with dramatic increase in nuclear families, working parents and busy lives. These are difficult times…
The Impending Crisis
The Impending
Crisis
All of the above have impacted our children and youth adversely. A crisis looms large on the horizon today. One out of four people suffer from mental illness, and 70% of mental health issues are reported to begin during childhood. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness among youth. There has been a spike in criminal acts involving juveniles, teenage suicides, pregnancy, rape and assault.
It all starts from within. And it all starts in the childhood.
Such troubled children grow up to be unhappy and stressed adults leading unhealthy, unbalanced lives with strained relationships. What would happen if our planet is taken over by such people?
A world of chaos, characterized by violence, greed, pride, disharmony, hostility and inhumanity. Where humans fail to be humans any more. A world where people are unkind, inflict pain on themselves and each other, and are insane enough to destroy the very home in which we live in – Mother Earth.
Is all this chaos and pain an external reality, or is it a
reflection of the inner chaos and pain inside ourselves?
Youngsters are the Pillars of Change
‘The youth is the hope of our future’ – Jose Rizal
Today’s youngsters are tomorrow’s world. They are the powerful agents of change who would shape and build our future world.
At a young age, their minds and hearts are more spacious and flexible, and so they are open to an inner transformation. Hence, any change that begins early in life, has a tremendous impact on the individuals, their families and societies to which they belong to.
Change our young, and we change our world.
“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against
war, we shall have to begin with the children”- Mahatma Gandhi
Change from Within or Without?
Should change begin from Outside or Inside?
The Outside-in approach starts from the outside. It attempts to bring inner change using outside action (could be gentle, persuasive words, negotiation or stern action), or altering the outside circumstances or situation. This approach is more popular and widely used by parents and educators, as it brings immediate results. Unfortunately, this change is more out of coercion, rarely inspired from Within, and is short-lived. It only increases resistance in our young ones and reduces the quality of our relationship with them.
However, when we look deeper, we realize that the chaos that we experience on the outside is merely a reflection of our own inner chaos. It all starts from the Inside.
So, let us do it Inside-out. If the Inside changes, the Outside changes on its own. It takes time, a lot of time, but is holistic, transformational and long-lasting.
“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you
spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda
The Mindful Young
Let us teach our young to meditate and live mindfully. As they learn to live from within, in the present moment, every moment, they experience a powerful silence, peace and joy within themselves. And so,
They give the same peace and joy to the world outside. They develop the habit of happiness, that is not dependent on external circumstances.
They are more kind and compassionate to others. They form and cultivate deep and meaningful relationships.
They are more relaxed, with reduced stress, anxiety, anger or aggression, as they foster self-awareness and are able to manage difficult emotions better.
They grow strength and resilience to face life’s challenges, and mature with natural conflict resolution skills.
Their focus and ability to pay attention improves, and they perform better, as the mind becomes stronger due to increased grey matter in the brain.
They are less prone to distractions as self-control increases.
They are able to overcome and change unhealthy habits more easily through inner alertness.
They are less susceptible to societal expectations and peer pressure through inner acceptance of themselves.
They improve in mental and physical health significantly, and are better equipped to meet the challenges of teenage and puberty.
They manage responsibilities with ease and perform exceptional work, being engaged in mindful activity.
They make better life decisions and solve issues creatively by connecting to the vast intelligence within.
They are able to nurture their inherent talents and untap their true potential, to provide service par excellence to this world.
On the whole, the way such youngsters relate to themselves, with others and the world around them is more holistic and balanced. ‘The Mindful Young’ blossom into wise, balanced and well-grounded adults with wonderful human values and ability to manage themselves, their relationships and life effectively.
“Every child carries the seed of peace and compassion within her.
Let us catch them young, nurture this seed, and help our children to
blossom into beautiful, compassionate leaders. This is our best gift to our
children and the world in which we live in.”
Meditation and Mindful living – A Powerful Habit
Youth is the foundation of an entire life to come. Habits, formed at an early age, become ingrained within and become the person’s nature for life. So it is important to start early, so that our youngsters form the essential habit of living from within themselves, every moment of their lives. This helps them to connect inside and develop their own inner compass, one that comes from the deep stillness and space within, and is based on the ageless and fundamental principles of the universe, like love, kindness, forgiveness, honesty, acceptance, wisdom and so on.
So, this powerful habit is the most important one that they will ever learn, that has the ability to empower and transform them into the best they can ever be. And this is the key to living a beautiful, joyful and fulfilling life.
Mindful living is holistic living. Children and youth who habitually meditate and live mindfully from a tender age, evolve into conscious, peaceful and compassionate leaders, which is what this planet needs most at the moment.