We are learning to meditate as a family thanks to the Ten Percent App and it may be the best thing we’ve committed to … ever. With guided meditations and practical teachings, we are learning individually and collectively to take control of our actions and feelings. Meditation has already had unbelievable results in the way we handle each other in our daily lives.
Trying to juggle homeschooling, work commitments, the fate of the world, and dinner can be quite daunting in these unprecedented times. And as a way to cope, I decided to give meditating a try. It’s something I knew would be good for me, but never really knew how to start. When my brother, who is graduating college this year, told me about the Ten Percent App I decided to give it a try. Ethan walked in while I was in the middle of one of the first lessons and asked if he could join me. Then Taj asked a few nights later if he could try. So I started The Basics over again and so glad I did. Joseph Goldstein really does walk you through each breathe one at a time to get you started.
Meditation allows us to find “practical, actionable ways of coping with stress, fear, and anxiety.” And through the Ten Percent program, we can each find some calm amidst the chaos. They have even added a CoronaVirus Sanity Guide and offer free resources for Essential Workers. Meditation is what saved Dan Harris after an on-air panic attack and his guidance applies to the most adamant meditation skeptics as well as beginner meditators. Ten Percent bring in the best meditation teachers to each of us through the app, so I assume Ten Percent is great for advanced and seasoned meditators as well.
In one week, my husband, my ten-year old son, and I have learned about mental noting and mindfulness. We have learned about not giving in to the feelings, but deciding and thinking about how to respond rather than react. Multiple times in conversation, one of notes something learned during a session. And yes, there have been times when each one of us has fallen asleep, but that’s ok because we also learned about jumping back in when the mind wanders.
If you and your family has 10-15 minutes to take some time together, I recommend you try to include this in your nightly routine. It’s a life changer!
And by the way, this is NOT a paid endorsement. I chose join Ten Percent as a member because having a daily meditation coach in my pocket is totally something I can subscribe to. But the free resources are there too. I look forward to how this will continue to change not just me, but my relationship with the world.
UPDATE: There is a podcast called Peace Out that we switched to for Taj. The beginner grown-up meditation was good for him, but as the meditations got longer, I realized he needed a more kid-appropriate guided meditation. I particularly like Season 2, which guides the listener through a new emotion starting with Calmness. And the emotions season also following the adventures of Kaala, a red panda, which makes it fun and kid-friendly.
