SoulKids® in Romania - Making a difference one child at a time

SoulKids® in Romania - Making a difference one child at a time

5 February 2018

By Dana Ilies, SoulKids® Mentor and Coach, Romania

After I finished my SoulKids® Mentor training I was asked to write a few words about myself for the Mentor page on the SoulKids® website. And this is what I wrote:

“Dana believes that when we give children the tools to lead a better life, our future will be a better and brighter world. Dana wants to change the world one child at a time!”

I did not know how I was going to go about doing this and I did not have a plan back then (that was in April 2016). But somehow, when you have a clear intention, the universe shows you the way. I continued to work as a SoulKids® Mentor in Singapore for 2 more years, teaching and inspiring children.

Early this year, we had to return to our home country Romania after many years overseas. I did not have a doubt in my mind about continuing my SoulKids® mission in Romania. It was a program I believed in and knew I wanted to continue to teach. We landed on April 3rd and my first program was on May 19th. It was sold out. The feedback I got was amazing and I continued with many more Programs following that.

Children in Romania love SoulKids®, and after every program I feel that I am one step closer to my goal. Parents benefit from SoulKids® too. A few days ago one parent told me that he sometimes tells himself “Always say yes, never give up”, something we teach children during the SoulKids® classes. It has been an amazing journey for me and I look forward to conducting many more successful programs here in Romania.

I end by encouraging all of you out there to believe you can make a difference in the world. There is no such thing as too small or too insignificant.

A few days ago I read a story about a girl, who was throwing back stranded Starfish from the beach into the sea. A man saw her and said there are thousands of stranded Starfish on the beach, you can only throw back a few of them, what difference does it make? And the girl answered while picking up one more Starfish, it makes a difference for this one.

Romania is one more file in the SoulKids® success story, and for that I am grateful to Vikas, the wisest teacher, to Sally Forrest who believed in me and brought me here, and to Vidhya Shailesh who guided me on my journey.

SoulKids®, Romania salutes you!

To find out more about our programs, please visit www.soulkids.org or email us atsoulkids@soulcentre.org for more information. We offer group programs for different age groups and even offer one-on-one coaching if your child requires specific help and guidance.

Life-skills for today's child

Life-skills for today’s child

24 September 2018

By: Vidhya Shailesh, SoulKids® Program Manager, www.soulkids.org 

We live in a constantly changing environment. The world as we know it today is drastically different from what it was while we were growing up. The environment, the social structure, the education systems, the lifestyle have all changed and adapted. In this ever-changing world, it is essential that we forever keep an open mind and embrace a growth mindset. What was relevant twenty years ago might not be today. We must keep up to the times.

As parents or caregivers, our job is to make our children future ready. Just as the world today is very different from the one we grew up in, the world that our children will live in is guaranteed to be different too. We must equip our children with the skills needed to adapt to this changing world, to make the most of it and to live a successful life. We cannot imagine what the world of tomorrow will be like for our children. By limiting their thought process or imposing beliefs in their mindsets, we are only limiting their potential. Instead, empower them with the right mindset and belief systems that help them create a life by choice.

This is where life-skills education plays a very important role. Children need to learn certain essential life-skills, which help them, navigate this journey of life with ease. Life-skills that help them create their own happiness and success no matter what. Life-skills that help them in any given situation.

Listed below are a few life-skills that are more relevant and essential today for children growing up.

1. Embrace Differences

Children need to be taught early to embrace the differences amongst their peers. We live in a world where geographical boundaries are fast diminishing and people travel far and wide. It is therefore very possible children might have around them others from various countries, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities etc. They must learn to embrace all of these differences and understand that this diversity should be celebrated.

2. Self-Belief

Self-Belief is a sense of trust and confidence in your own abilities and judgments. Children need to be encouraged right from a very young age to trust their own choices and to believe in themselves. A high sense of self-belief helps them approach every new experience with enthusiasm and helps bring out their potential.   

3. Resilience

In an attempt to give our children the perfect upbringing, sometimes we end up shielding them from failure. However failure is one of the greatest teachers for children. It teaches them to pick themselves up and despite their disappointment, try again. It teaches them to learn from the experience and not give up.

4. Positive thinking

Children must learn the importance of positive thinking. They must be taught to always see the good in every situation. Being positive helps them feel happy and helps them be in control of their emotions. A positive mindset leads the way for anything they wish to achieve in their lives. Be positive around them and encourage them to be positive too.

5. Teamwork

Children need to learn the importance of teamwork. In any social or professional capacity, teamwork is necessary.  Children need to learn the skills required to work with others. Be it in a leadership capacity or as a team member, teamwork is an essential life skill.

SoulKids® training is geared towards teaching children these very life-skills among several others. In a fun and engaging environment, children learn many valuable skills that help them through any given situation in life. They develop the right mindset and belief systems that support them and help them create their own happiness and success. Children love the program and always want to keep coming back for more.

Our next program is happening on November 10 & 11 for 6-12 year olds. Register your children to have them benefit. 

To find out more about our programs, please visit www.soulkids.org or email us at soulkids@soulcentre.org for more information. We offer group programs for different age groups and even offer one-on-one coaching if your child requires specific help and guidance.

Resilience - A much needed skill for children

Resilience – A much needed skill for Children

By Sally Forrest
BSc, MRPharmS, MBA.
11th September 2018

Resilience is the ability to pick yourself up when things do not go your way.
The ability to recover from setbacks and difficulties, the ability to have mental toughness.

Resilience is a skill that can be taught in children (and adults) and the earlier it is taught; the better life will become.
Life will not always go the way we expect it to, and this statement alone will change the way your child reacts to life.

Life often throws us a curve ball; Death of a loved one, Divorce, Redundancy, Moving Country, Loss of a Pet …the list is endless. The question we have to answer is “How do we deal with this new situation and how do we get our life back on track?"

Children are tough!
Do not treat them otherwise. Expose them to the Ups and Downs that life throws their way.

How can you develop Resilience in your child? Here are 4 easy steps:

1)    Talk OpenlyTalk about how you have dealt with issues in your own past, how did you feel, what actions did you take to get back on track and how you managed to turn life around once more.

2)    Expose them to other people’s experiences.If a friend has an issue then do not be the only one who offers support. Discuss the situation openly in the family and expose your children to life’s challenges at an early age.

3)    Accept that Change is normal.If we expect that life will always be the same, then we will sadly be disappointed. Explain to your child the concept of life cycles, show them this in nature. At an early age get them to understand that everything will one day pass away. Demonstrate this with the seasons in nature - the leaves fall, the grass grows and is harvested, butterflies are here for a short time and then move on.
The sooner we all accept that each day that passes is one less day we have to live on this wonderful planet, then the sooner we start to appreciate all the good things we have in life.

4)    Nurture positivity.Self-confidence and a positive outlook in life will see you through any crisis. Develop the attitude that “no matter what happens in life, I can deal with it”.

Whenever your child has an issue, do not jump in and solve it for them. Ask them questions to get them to suggest answers and ways forward.

At SoulKids we offer one on one coaching for your child in addition to group programs.
Please do connect and register your child for one of our upcoming workshops: soulkids@soulcentre.org

Success in Life

Success in Life

By Sally Forrest
BSc, MRPharmS, MBA
12^th September 2018

Success means different things to different people.
The question is “What does life success mean to you?”

Imagine that life is like pieces of a Jigsaw, each piece joins together to create an image.
What image are you creating for your Life?

In this moment I want you to simply STOP and reflect on your life.
Are you happy and content with the image you are creating, or do you want to alter the image in some way?
Your past does not have to determine your future and at any moment you have the ability to make changes to life.

I work with many clients to first identify what are their natural strengths.
What skills and talents did you arrive with?
Believe it or not this is actually written into your date of birth and by using elemental analysis I can explain exactly the make-up of your skill set.

For example: 

Fire element is all about inspiring other, showing your passion and leading the way.
Metal element is law abiding, disciplined and great at setting up systems and processes.
Wood element loves to learn and grow, to teach others.
Water element likes speed of implementation, expansion and is able to change form.
Earth element is trustworthy, stable and reassuring.

What elements you are born with and how they interact is the first step to understanding what pieces you have in your jigsaw. My philosophy is that you follow your strengths, you grow these to excellence as these are the pieces of the jigsaw that you arrived with.
Along your journey you collect new pieces each year and these are also explained through a series of cycles.

Not everyone has all 5 elements and this will also give an indication of what roles are not suited to you as well as weaker areas to develop.

Together we formulate a Life Success Method that is tailored to you, and may include Health, Wealth, Relationships, Purpose, Work, Growth and Legacy…
The pieces are up to you as Success is your own creation and will mean different things to different people.

To book a one on one session with Sally please connect on: sally@soulcentre.org

Meditation for Families

Meditation for Families

By Vidhya Shailesh
SoulCentre Certified Meditation Teacher
22^nd  August 2018

Meditation is called the science of Freedom and Power. It is a science as it is logical, step-by-step and guarantees results when practiced. It is often misunderstood as a practice meant for those who wish to shun their responsibilities or those that wish to live in solitude. The truth however, is very different.

Meditation has been around for centuries and has withstood the test of time for a simple reason – It Works! Meditation is a way of life. The wisdom of meditation not just rewires your mind; it also rewires your life for the better. Why then would it be reserved for the select few? Ancient masters knew and understood the effects that meditation has on the human mind and hence prescribed it in one form or the other to every single person that approached them. Be it a child who wishes to develop deeper focus and concentration, or a teenager trying to manage their emotions or an adult who would like to create their life by choice. Meditation works for everyone, whatever stage of life they might be at or whatever state of mind they might be at.

As families, it is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. Learning to meditate together, or simply following and living by some of the wisdom and teachings of meditation, drastically improves your quality of life individually and together as a family. Meditation helps you develop greater focus and clarity. It helps you become more compassionate and loving. This inner state of wellbeing and peace finds expression even in your external life and in your environment. You find that your relationships become more harmonious. And no matter what happens in your life, you always have a way of handling it well. Meditation helps you become a solution seeker rather than being a problem seeker. Family meditation practices can help reduce anxiety and stress and promote health and happiness in busy parents and children.

Storms are the nature of the sea. Similarly storms in life are inevitable. The wisdom of meditation helps us to keep our balance and sail through the storms with ease. Be it a child, or a teenager or an adult, the wisdom applies to one and all. A family that meditates together is grounded in wisdom and more supportive of each other. Life has the ability to throw us off guard. In all the ups and down of life, it is necessary for us to have the right balance. Meditation gives us the wisdom, tools and the techniques to find this inner balance. It gives us the right mindset to sail through life. Meditation teaches us to keep our focus and have greater clarity on what we would like out of our lives.

Masters live by choice, not by chance. Meditation helps us become the masters of our own lives. When parents are well anchored in wisdom and meditation, they can guide their children well through their growing up years. Conditioning is often handed down from the parents to the children. A healthy meditation practice helps us break down conditioning and beliefs that do not serve us. It helps us instill the right skills and belief systems in our children. Each generation serves as teachers to the next. It is therefore wise to invest in ourselves so we can become better teachers for our children and the generations to come.

Here are a few ways to embrace meditation as a family:

1) Learn and practice together. Even if it is a short practice sit and do it together. Talk about how it feels and your observations.

2) Let your children watch you practice. As they watch, they will get inclined towards practicing it themselves. Talk about how you apply the wisdom on a day to day basis. Be dedicated to an everyday practice.

3) Create a little corner for meditation or set a routine perhaps a bedtime one where you meditate for a short period of time before you fall asleep each night. Simple breathing exercises, reflection on the day gone by, gratitude for what life offers are all great ways to start.

4) Start with short periods of time and gradually increase the time you sit for meditation. Expect some resistance but don’t give up. With some practice, it becomes easier.

At SoulCentre, we teach Meditation at all levels from beginner to advance. Our sessions are short, easy to learn, practical and produce results right from day one. When learnt properly, you will develop a love for the practice as you can see the results unfold in your own life. Learning to meditate is the best investment you can make for yourself.

The next Meditation Made Simple ™ program is on September 11/12/18/19. In 4 short sessions, you can learn several valuable lessons and techniques, which are guaranteed to help on an ongoing basis. To find out more, get in touch with us at info@soulcentre.org or visit http://www.soulcentre.org/events

How to manage stress in children

How to manage stress in children

By Vikas Malkani
Founder of SoulKids®, www.soulkids.org13th August 2018

The task of raising children and making them future ready, brings many challenges. From academic stress, to teenage issues; from low self-esteem to intense peer pressure, children face it all in their years of learning and growing.

And parents feel the stress too. Parenting is one the most challenging jobs there is. It tests our patience, positivity and persistence. It can bring out our inner potential, or it can kill it completely.

The word 'stress' originates from the French word 'estrece' meaning 'narrowness' and depicts a limiting or constriction of our power and abilities.

We have the feeling of being stressed out when we think we have too much to handle either on a mental, emotional or physical level. Stress also occurs when we view change and pressure as burdens rather than as challenges.

Interestingly, what makes a person stress-full may be quite an ordinary event for another person. The secret to releasing stress is to realize that stress is created not by the event or circumstance itself, but by the way we respond to what happens to us.

Decide today to live a life that’s free of stress. The first step to this is learning how to manage stress when it crops up. It's never too late to make your children and the job of parenting, stress-free and joyful. Remember - Life is too short to postpone happiness until the conditions are just perfect.

Here are 3 stress management tips that lead to greater happiness for you and your children.

TIP 1 - START YOUR DAY WITH GRATITUDE

All of us have a lot to be grateful for, but most times, we don’t realize it. Children take for granted whatever their parents provide for them.

Train your children to start every day with 5 minutes of focusing on gratitude. Gratitude helps to cultivate a positive mind-set. Remember, as your day begins, you don’t know what the day will bring to you, but you can decide what you will bring to this day! So, choose to bring a grateful and happy ‘you’ to your day and see the benefits happen.

If you constantly think about what is wrong or what you lack, you will be more stressed out. Instead, spend 5 minutes before you get active in the morning reminding yourself what is great in your life. You can do this exercise together with your children at the start of the day.

TIP 2 – MEDITATE

In every situation, you always have two choices - either curse the darkness, or light a candle.  Meditation helps you to train your mind to choose the more positive attitude.

Simply put, stress is the result of the way you think. And if you develop the ability to change the way you think, you will have in your hands the power to manage stress regardless of what the causes may be.

Stress arises out of the way you think, and since meditation is the skill of training your mind, and becoming aware of your thoughts, meditation is also one of the most effective antidotes to stress. Negative thinking produces stress and thinking positively releases it, it’s that simple in most cases. 

Invest in meditation. Find an authentic and reputable teacher and make sure you and your children learn the skills of meditation. Training your mind through the ancient science of meditation shows you the way to create your own happiness and joy.

So, find a good teacher and learn the skills of meditation and mindfulness. Countless studies have shown that meditation and mindfulness help you to manage stress better.

TIP 3 – PERFECTION DOESN’T HAPPEN

It’s a fact that we all have imperfections. This includes your children too; remember that they are not perfect and are not meant to be, they are wonderful and unique just the way they are and your job as a parent is not to make them different, but rather to make them the best version of who they authentically are.

Expecting your children to be perfect will create more stress, I promise. So ease up a little, check the expectations you carry and lower them if necessary, and see how much more you can enjoy parenting and your life. You will be happily surprised.  

Trying to control every moment and outcome of your life will always cause more stress for you. Instead, release a bit of control, take the action the present moment requires, and then, stop clinging to the results.

There are also important lessons adults can learn from children about managing stress. Here is one - HAVE FUN. Being around children has taught me the simple power of pursuing fun -- again and again. A simple game like hide and seek can keep a child happy and occupied for hours. The price of the game: nothing. The fun: priceless.

But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life or it won’t happen. Life's too short to not have it. In my perspective, life is what you make it to be, nothing more, nothing less.

So HAVE FUN with your children and make your family happier and stress free!

If you wish to become a stress-free parent, I highly recommend our ‘Meditation Made Simple’ program as the perfect first step. 

Click here to see dates and register http://www.soulcentre.org/events

Vikas Malkani is an authority and one of the world’s leading teachers of meditation and mindfulness. He has taught the secrets of meditation to CEO’s, Hollywood Stars, Royalty, Entrepreneurs, Doctors, Psychologists and Sports Champions.

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation, Mindfulness & Stress-Management. www.soulcentre.org

SoulKids is an award-winning life skills program that makes children future-ready by teaching them leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, teamwork and more.

Find out more about SoulKids programs and one-on-one coaching here www.soulkids.org or email us at info@soulcentre.org

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

By Mary Jo Pokorski

SoulCentre Meditation Teacher, www.soulcentre.org

8^th August 2018

Why did you want to become a teacher of meditation?

           

As I underwent my meditation classes with Vikas, I started realizing how powerful and useful this ancient teaching was. What really was amazing to me was noticing what a profound effect it had begun to have in my own life in such a very short amount of time. I started releasing my fears and no longer lived a life overshadowed by anxiety. As I was finally dropping my burdens and started standing high again, I began noticing how my fellow students were all experiencing a similar renewed passion for life and were achieving a sense of freedom. When I saw how many of us were being brought forward to live our highest life, I realized that I had to share this in my turn and help as many people as possible by becoming a teacher of meditation. 

How did you feel on conducting your first program?

           

I was beyond excited. I was sharing my passion at last. I knew that the program’s content was mind-blowing and that it would change lives.

How has the feedback been?

           

I have always had very positive feedback. People often begin thinking that meditation is something mystical and a little beyond everyday life. After undergoing the class, they look at life through fresh eyes, empowered by wisdom and practical tools that allow them to deal with anything life offers at any time.

Can you give an example of someone who’s life has changed?

One of my most heartening experiences was when a client whose partner had left them came to seek support. They had been recommended to me by another one of my students. This person came in with the weight of their world on their shoulders. Under tremendous emotional stress: overwhelming sadness, anger, worry, sense of loss, you name it. As the sessions progressed, it was touching and inspiring to see this person opening to life as they connected with the ancient wisdom of meditation and benefited from immediate effects that meditation brings. By the final session this person was able to smile and laugh again, knowing that whatever came, they would be able to address it serenely.

How has meditation helps you personally?

Meditation has been a life-changer for me. I used to be overwhelmed by emotional ups and downs. I was especially prone to crippling anxiety for years. Meditation finally gave me an effective way to free myself from all of these inner stressors, and allowed me to create inner peace, as well as a sense of freedom and stability I was craving for.

Anyone and everyone can learn Meditation.

Our Next Meditation program is on 14/15/20/21 August and our next weekend program on 29/30 September.

At SoulCentre we teach all the way from Beginner to Advanced level and many of our students decide to become Teachers of Meditation and to share the wisdom.

Please do connect with us to start your Meditation journey. You are in great hands at SoulCentre.

Click here to register on Meditation Made Simple http://www.soulcentre.org/events
Or drop us an email at info@soulcentre.org

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