What is Mindfulness?
What does it have to do with Emotional Intelligence? Sm’Heart Skills?
Mindfulness is awareness of the present moment by noticing your thoughts,
emotions & feelings, physical sensations of body, and/or surrounding environment.
Mindfulness can be a “state of mind” in the present moment, and over time,
it can become an enduring personal trait or a way of being and living
so we practice bringing mindful awareness to as many moments in life as possible.
Mindfulness includes the intentional nurturing of positive states of mind
such as kindness, compassion, gentleness, and acceptance for oneself and for others,
thereby practicing to be aware of any harmful judgments arising.
Why Mindfulness is a Superpower
“Mindfulness is the ability to know what’s happening in your head
at any given moment without getting carried away by it.”
~Dan Harris, “Why Mindfulness is a Superpower”
Mindfulness + Emotional Intelligence = Sm’Heart Skills
Whether you are 5, 25, or 55, mindfulness is foundational to emotional intelligence to support us throughout our experiences and stages in life.
“Emotions drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships and health.
Mastering the skills of emotional intelligence paves the way for
greater well-being, better relationships and overall effectiveness
…for students from kindergarten through high school
and for the adults who surround them, including educators and parents.”
~ Marc Brackett, director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your emotions, and to understand and respond effectively to the emotions of others. These are internal and interpersonal skills that can be acquired and improved with practice. Imagine how beneficial that would be for children/teens, for parents, for educators, or for anyone, including YOU!!!
In traditional educational settings, or for many of us growing up, emotional intelligence life skills are/were not formally taught, yet these are the essential skills to handle life’s pressures, stresses, and challenges which arise throughout the day and across the years, regardless of age or background. When the going gets tough, those are the “teachable moments” in the “school of life”!
Well-being is a skill and all skills require practice! Your well-being is the most important education you will ever receive! Learning never ends at the YOUniversity. Learn, practice, and grow skillfully with us!
According to CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to:
- understand and manage emotions,
- set and achieve positive goals,
- feel and show empathy for others,
- establish and maintain positive relationships,
- and make responsible decisions.
Image http://www.casel.org/what-is-sel/
At MK YOU, we call it “Sm’Heart” skills (pronounced “smart”): the inner resources for emotional resilience and well-being.
Sm’heart skills involves the understanding, awareness, and management of emotions, aligned with your positive core values and intentions when making decisions, problem solving, or creating to achieve the very best version of YOU! Through mindfulness practices, you (children, teens, and adults) can learn and practice “Sm’Heart” skills for a greater awareness of emotions, thoughts, and sensory input. You will also practice HOW to manage those emotions and thoughts, as well as how to create the space to allow the thinking mind to align with the heart. In so doing, the outcome is aligned with who you want to BE in this world! In so doing, you make a positive impact on the world around you.
With practice, mindfulness can help you learn to pause, without reacting in an automatic or habitual way. A moment of mindful awareness presents an opportunity for choosing how to move forward with presence, with compassion, clarity, curiosity, and with heart by aligning with your core values. “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” (~Charles Swindoll) You can learn that experiences don’t have to overwhelm you and how to remain calm and centered through life’s ups and downs.
At Mindful Kindful YOUniversity we blend neuroscience, social emotional learning, and evidence based practices of mindfulness, movement, and yoga to cultivate the core competencies and essential life skills for emotional intelligence – “Sm’Heart Skills!
See our MK YOU Programs for YOUth
and Programs for Adults
Mindful ~ Kindful ~ Skillful
READ THESE STORIES & MORE:
7 Questions Every School Should Answer
An Incomplete Education ~ What is Missing?
Mindfulness In Education? Skills for the 21st Century
Mindfulness Seeds of the Heart