#Mindup brain how to#

The MindUp program, the Foundation’s signature educational initiative, is designed to address these oft-neglected components of learning. Six years ago Hawn established a nonprofit group called The Hawn Foundation “to promote children’s academic success in school and in life through social and emotional learning.” It is based on the notion that kids’ intellects do not exist in isolation from their emotions, their connections to others or the rest of their bodies. Just as any 7-year-old can now do, I had looked it up on the web. She answered the obvious question first: Why is Goldie Hawn speaking at a brain conference? I already partly knew the answer. If the neuroscience community was going to be delivered an advocate, they could have done a lot worse. Unlike most people who wing it, Hawn strung together rhythmic sentences that made sense. As she talked, it occurred to me that vivaciousness and beauty did not alone propel her to stardom. Hawn spoke without notes, claiming to be a born communicator, a claim she backed up by her performance. I watched her stop to enthusiastically greet–hug, kiss–various other conference attendees, who seemed equally eager to chat her up, whether to advance their work or sidle up to celebrity, I couldn’t say. Her trademark laugh and general effervescence mark her like a strobe light, quite visible even in the bright Colorado sun. It wasn’t so much her looks, though, that made her instantly recognizable. A grandmother now, Hawn looked fabulous in over-the-knee black leather boots and a chunky silver belt strung around a black miniskirt. I knew she was about to give the keynote address, but I was startled to practically run into the actress. When I arrived at the Aspen Meadows Resort for the Second Annual Aspen Brain Forum last Thursday evening, Goldie Hawn was getting out of a vehicle near the entrance. Next week, I’ll continue with Part II of becoming more mindful.ASPEN. We can feel more peaceful if we can focus on just being – human BEings. How does your food taste? What is the temperature of your environment? What can you smell or touch? Anxious people tend to worry about the future, depressed people tend to ruminate in the past, therefore one can see how staying in the present is a gift. Pay attention to your five senses to stay in the moment. Have you ever noticed how you’ve driven from one destination to another and can’t remember how you got there? Have you ever gone for a walk with a friend and started planning your upcoming weekend? We get in the habit of living our life in auto-pilot or in the past or future.īegin with the external environment. Whatever you are doing, ask yourself, “What’s the state of my mind? ~ Dalai Lama How Can I Train Myself to Spend More Time in the Present? The goal of mindfulness is to have increased awareness of the present moment and to be accepting of whatever state the body and mind are in. How Can We Teach Ourselves and Our Children to Be More Mindful?ġ) It is an active process – active attention which leads to awarenessĢ) It focuses on the present rather than the past or the futureģ) It requires nonjudgmental thought, and acceptance without thinking that the present moment is good or bad, right or wrong etc. The awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experiences moment by moment ~ John Kabat-Zinn

Teachers feel better about teaching as a profession and their jobs.

Teachers see and experience positive gains in the classrooms (For example, a 15% rise in students’ math achievement).

Students were significantly more attentive and emotionally regulated. Children learn to focus their attention and develop a more positive outlook on school.Students’ response to the MindUp program showed acceptance of and interest in the program.Children evidenced improvements in social-emotional competence and decreases in aggression and antisocial behaviours.Children exhibited improved optimism and self-concept.These are the findings according to researchers, Schonert-Reichl & Lawlor (2010): What Are the Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Educational Program?

#Mindup brain how to#

How to be mindfully aware using all the fives senses and mindful movement.Focused awareness by taking part in breathing exercises a few times/day.