piritual health
 
     Children and teenagers who are safest from violence believe themselves to be of high value and believe that everyone they meet is also of high value.
      One way to teach this high self value is to have a child believe that not only do their relatives, friends, teachers  and neighbors think they are wonderful, but also that the universe thinks they are wonderful.
    Religious institutions know a great deal about teaching spirituality. It is good to have a child participate in a church, synagogue or mosque. Just beware of adults who teach intolerance or a lot of "us versus them." (See Evil )
      The human brain seems set up from birth (preprogrammed) to feel some relationship with the feeling that most people call spiritual. Prayer, meditation, or deep relaxation-- what most people call spiritual practices--stimulate the human brain and seem good for people.
     Adults who mediate or pray have a stronger immune system, heal faster and have lower blood pressure. It also seems that if a teenager thinks the Universe is on his side then drugs, alcohol, inappropriate sex, gambling, violence and other escapist behavior is less attractive.
     I recommend teaching all children how to meditate. If you are religious, you can do it within a religious tradition.
 
ow to Meditate
  
  
  1.  Find a spot where you won't be disturbed. 

  2.  Start with 5 minutes once a day for young children. Older children can do this for 20 minutes once or twice a day. 

  3.  Choose a word like "Peace", "Love", "God", "One" or "Yes." 

  4.  Sit in the quiet spot, close your eyes and every time you breathe out say the word to yourself. Don't think about the word. Just say the word to remind yourself to go into this particular state of mind. 

  5.  When thoughts come, gently push them away. Treat them like paper boats floating down a river. They come, and they go. If you find yourself thinking about a thought, say the word again to go ‘back into the river.’ 

  6.  After a while you will feel a warm calmness. It is very quiet. That is when the brain changes. If you are religious, that is the feeling that you are hanging out right with God, and He is loving you. It is not magic anyone can do it. 

  7. After you have been doing it for a while, get up and go about your day. When you see your friends or family, you may remember that peaceful happy feeling. When you see the sky or trees you may remember the feeling. When you see your clothes or your food, you can remember that feeling. It makes all of your life better. 

   8. When you feel frustration or disappointment you can remember the peaceful feeling, and you can feel a little less angry. You can think more clearly to solve problems. 

    9. If conflicts arise, you will stay calmer and be able to remember your own decency and the decency of the other kid. 
 
 

 
 
 

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