After watching an interview with Hollywood star Goldie Hawn, I knew I had to check out her foundation.
THE HAWN FOUNDATION - Change the world. One mind at a time.
"Founded in 2003 by award winning actress, director and producer Goldie Hawn, The Hawn Foundation is dedicated to supporting children by advancing mindfulness training in educational, healthcare and community-based settings."
On Buddhism:
"I've been practicing Buddhism for a while. So, I call myself a Jew-Bu, because my tribe is still Jew. But my philosophy and my practice is really Buddhist," says Hawn. "Buddhism is really, one of its main practices is understanding and experiencing compassion, and how that ultimately is a road to happiness."
For those of you who want to know more about Buddhism and how it can change your life, please click HERE
Buddhism is sometimes referred to as, "science of the mind". The techniques employed by the GH Foundation are scientifically TESTED
MINDFULNESS
Is there not a more deserving person to start mindfulness development than your children? Is not the future of our planet in their hands?
"At The Hawn Foundation, we share the dreams of all teachers and parents to help children achieve excellence, both in and outside of school. When kids learn simple mindfulness-based techniques (also called attention training), they gain critical skills to understand their own thoughts and feelings, and behave in more healthy, responsive ways."
Mindfulness is the awareness of the present moment. The bill boards and T.V. adverts direct our attention to the next must have product. It is very difficult to be mindful when our minds are so full of clutter. Difficult but not impossible. I believe mindfulness to be the by product of meditation (see my other blog on this subject) If everyone was more aware of the present moment and carefully considered their actions, then the world would be a better place. For every positive or negative action, there is an equal reaction.
About Mindful Focused Awareness:
"Mindful focused awareness means being aware of your own mind. When you practice mindfulness, you cultivate more awareness and insight into each day, moment by moment.
The better we can understand our own minds (made up of thoughts and feelings), the more aware of and in control we are over our own behavior. Rather than judging and reacting what occurs in our experience, we learn to observe and respond. Mindfulness helps us conduct our lives in a way that is healthy, responsible and joyful."
This is from a recent article from, The INDEPENDENT newspaper:
"A motion to be debated at the ATL's annual conference in Torquay next Tuesday says: "Conference notes with deep concern that many children in our schools appear unhappy and anxious." Over the next two weeks, ATL members will discuss several topics relating to the mental health of primary age children and the pressures they face in modern society. Another motion on the ATL's agenda warns that "social dysfunction and family breakdown are damaging the educational attainment of children and the performance of schools and colleges", while a third speaks of the growing number of pupils being driven to suicide by "academic, social and peer pressure". The recent spate of teenage suicides in Bridgend, South Wales, is symptomatic of the unease felt by today's children, delegates will hear."
For the full article, please click HERE
Mindfulness exercise:
1) The next time you are walking from A to B be aware of the present moment. Please be aware of where you are right now. Don't be thinking of your destination (B) before you get there, or about what you will be watching that night on T.V. Instead focus and be mindful of what's going on around and don't miss out on the beauty of the present moment. If you are with someone, then give them your full attention and be mindful of what they are saying.
2) Wash the dishes to wash the dishes! Yes that's right. When you are washing the dishes I want you to try and think about nothing else but washing the dishes and not about the cup of tea that you are going to enjoy when you are finished. This is a difficult exercise and of course this applies to ALL activities.
Web Links:
The Hawn Foundation
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