In this episode of the TiLT Parenting Podcast, my guest is corporate mindfulness teacher, author, and speaker Michelle Gale. Michelle is author of the book Mindful Parenting in a Messy World and is the host of the Mindful Parenting in a Messy World podcast, which is a great resource I encourage you to check out if our conversation sparks your interest in the power of mindfulness in your parent life.
While the previous episode I did on mindfulness was all about the benefits for kids, in this episode, Michelle and I shift the focus to parents and explore the ways in which weaving mindfulness into our lives in simple ways can have a big impact not only parenting with more purpose, but getting through difficult situations with our kids, especially when our own emotional reactions are triggered. And to be clear, we won’t be talking about meditating for ten minutes a day or really adding anything onto your already full plate—this conversation and Michelle’s approach is really all about being more mindful in our own interactions; noticing our emotions and responses, paying attention to what’s going on in our minds, and doing that internal work which is so much of what I write about in Differently Wired. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
About Michelle: Michelle Gale is a corporate mindfulness teacher, author, and public speaker. She enjoys connecting with audiences around the country and online to explore the power of presence, living with intention, and mindful parenting. She was previously the head of learning and leadership development at Twitter and spent most of her career working in high growth start-ups.
Michelle has written for many online publications including the Harvard Business Review and has a bestselling book titled Mindful Parenting in a Messy World. In addition to her board work with the Holistic Life Foundation she is currently a strategic advisor to the Mindful Schools and Wisdom 2.0 conference. Michelle received her M.A in Psychology from Meridian University and has studied and trained extensively with teachers such as Mark Coleman, Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Byron Katie. Michelle is a long term practitioner of mindfulness and lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Join Michelle’s community at www.michellegale.com and receive the “Busy Parents Guide to Practicing Mindfulness.”
THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
- How Michelle Gale defines mindfulness
- Simple ways to build mindfulness into every day life in small moments
- How practicing mindfulness as a parent can help us get through difficult moments with our kids and “tolerate discomfort”
- How parents can explore our personal triggers and why that benefits the whole family
- The power of asking the simple question: “What’s most important now?”
- Why the act of “repairing” after a difficult moment can be where the real learning happens for our kids
- How to deal with guilt we as parents might experience in a healthy way
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Mindful Parenting in a Messy World: Living with Presence and Parenting with Purpose by Michelle Gale
- Simple Habit (mindfulness meditation app)
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
Click on the image below to learn more about UNDERSTOOD’s Summer Book Club (July / August 2018)
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