Embracing conscious parenting
First thing’s first, there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. There are constant struggles and mistakes - it’s an ongoing learning process. So what works and what doesn’t? Dr. Shefali Tsabary, author of “The Conscious Parent”, believes that the system of traditional parenting methods is broken and that a conscious parenting style is the future. Let’s take a look at what conscious parenting means and how it can help your parent-child relationship.
What is conscious parenting?
Conscious parenting is a hands-on approach that encourages a parent to engage in mindfulness and self-reflection, in order to connect with their children. It focuses on becoming a better parent and forging a healthy relationship with a child, rather than solely parenting a child.
The approach is based on the Eastern philosophy of meditation and the Western psychology of self-reflection. Through a combination of both disciplines, the aim is to release parents from their battle of striving to “fix” their children and forcing their own beliefs upon them - instead viewing children as independent and trusting their outlook. The outcome is that parents become more self-aware and in doing so, they look inward and use mindfulness to make conscious choices. While this undoubtedly has so many advantages for the individual - mentally, spiritually and physically - the benefits are also reaped by the child since it allows children to develop their own identity and connect authentically with their parents, as they’re being accepted for who they are. All in all, the result is a healthy, authentic and harmonious relationship where each person is seen, heard and respected.
Conscious parenting pros
In the relationship between parents and children, Dr. Shefali promotes this parenting style as a beneficial way of raising happier and more conscious children who can thrive for themselves. She believes that if parenting and disciplining children can be carried out more consciously, both the parent and child will benefit in numerous ways. Conscious parenting has the ability to improve and repair a relationship, enhancing communication and building respect. Parents may feel more confident in how they raise their children, while children have the freedom to develop a sense of who they are. Through conscious parenting, both parties are enabled to make genuine connections in other relationships in life, which is integral to living a more wholesome life in general.
Where to begin?
The interesting thing about the conscious parenting journey is that there is no manual to follow. It’s a mindset and shift in perspective that involves a person living more consciously and being in the moment. When you are present in the moment, you learn to listen, make decisions and react in a more conscious way in that moment. It’s all about the moment! Embracing these mindful moments results in a more harmonious family life. To help you get there and start implementing the conscious parenting style, we’ve put together 3 top things that are required from a parent in order to start conscious parenting - it’s available for Ora Collective members right now on the membership platform.
Become an Ora Collective member or sign in to your membership portal to view our conscious parenting tips.