Young people today live in a world where they are bombarded with a growing number of products all demanding their attention. With mobile phones, ipods, virtual worlds of facebook, twitter and the like, 24/7 texting, emailing, shopping and entertainment are all starting to have their impact on the ability of young people to maintain their attention meaningfully on one thing.
With almost 10% of young people experiencing some level of behavioural problems, the growing number of young people on anti-depressants and the shocking revelation that almost 20% of 9-12 feel depressed and anxious, it is critical to find a solution to the growing mental health crisis in young people.
Researchers as Surrey University have been looking at mindfulness meditation and its impact on those who feel a compulsion to shop, the shopaholics. Mindfulness meditation helps individuals be present in the moment of now, rather than be fused with their thoughts and emotions. This is particularly valuable when individuals realise that although they have thoughts, they are not themselves the thought. It’s a very liberating realisation and helps with the dis-identification with the content of our minds and emotions, especially with compulsive thought patterns of destructive emotions such as anger or anxiety .
“Mindfulness meditation, like other meditation has consistently shown to greatly improve disruptive behaviour, improve self confidence, academic achievement and interpersonal relationships, it should be on every school curriculum” – Dav Panesar, Mindfulness meditation teacher of more than 20 years.
Mindfulness for beginners
https://www.stressmanagement.co.uk/cart/display-courses.asp?page=22
Mindfulness based Stress Management
https://www.stressmanagement.co.uk/cart/display-courses.asp?page=21
EXERCISES
Mindfulness (by Dav Panesar)
Symran (by Dav Panesar)
Meditation for children (by Dav Panesar)
