Guided Meditations
Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment, non-judgementally. Our minds frequently drift and wonder, because we've evolved to scan our environments for threats as a survival mechanism. Moreover, our busy lives and parenting responsibilities often lead to our attention frequently shifting. Mindfulness takes a while to make a habit, but by training our brains to pay attention to the present moment, we can learn to feel more engaged, focused and at ease. We can also notice our emotions and physical sensations, responding to these compassionately with practise.
Below are a range of guided self-compassion mindfulness exercises adapted for parenthood, with inspiration from Dr Kristin Neff. As a busy parent, I understand that there isn't always time for long mindfulness practices so I have recorded my own guided meditations that can easily be incorporated into your day. Please go easy on yourself as you try these out and remember you can come back to them at any time!
Guided Practices
You can click on the links below to listen to the mindfulness recordings:
- Introduction to Mindfulness
- Self-Compassion Break for Parents
- Loving Kindness Meditation
- Compassion for Caregivers
- Compassionate Colour
- Peaceful Place Imagery- coming soon
- Compassionate Body Scan- coming soon
- Soothing Rhythm Breathing- coming soon
I hope you find these practices helpful, please email me if you have any suggestions for further practices.
