Has anyone noticed that things are a bit 'off' in the world at the moment? How do we set about course correcting? Can anyone come up with a solution?
I've got an idea? Let's re-think the education system. Let's introduce mindfulness into the curriculum. Let's give our children new tools with which to navigate life. What do you think? Could it work? Lets give it a try and see!
That was my epiphany last year. I suddenly understood what we needed to do with such clarity and vision. Something so simple and rudimentary and human that could be our solution.
Our world is basically 'broke'. Financially broke, spiritually broke, socially broke, ethically broke and mindfully broke. Most of the population are on a treadmill going nowhere and are so caught up in all the shiny, sparkly things around them that they're lost their way. More horrifyingly this 'blindness' is being passed onto our children.
When our children see us continually stressed, anxious and tired, complaining, moaning and negative, how are they supposed to get excited about their future? Do you think they're saying in their heads 'when I grow up I want to be just like you two' or 'you mum' (as there's an alarming rise of single mothers out there due to divorce)?
Nope!! You're never going to hear that coming from your children's mouths. Instead what you will hear is 'why should I grow up, what and be just like you?' 'What's the point?'
So we'll be filled with the complete opposite of what we have now. Apathetic, unmotivated, uninspired, no-direction drifters.
Has anyone read 'outwitting the devil' by Napoleon Hill? Well I suggest you do because it's great at defining that's happening right now. The mystery to me is that this book was written nearly 80 years ago and we're still doing the exact same things Mr Hill debates in his book.
Einstein said 'the definition of madness is to keep doing the same things but to expect a different result'.....so we're officially insane then because apart from our social and technological advances education is pretty much the same as it always was. Maths, the sciences, literature, religious studies, music and art, oh and if you're lucky a bit of PE twice a week! Yep my daughter has much the same curriculum as I did 47 years ago.
Nope! That's not going to happen to my daughter. She isn't going to be a product of the never-ending cycle of 'disconnected brain syndrome'. I'm going to start the wheels in motion to change things, shake it up a bit, challenge the 'status quo'. But how my nearest and dearest ask? What's your plan?
You don't know me and I don't know you. So let me introduce myself. My name is Anna Moody, for 20 years I've lived on the island of Rhodes in Greece, I am a serial entrepreneur, built businesses, guided leaders, branded a region, had a daughter, failed at marriage and come up with a vision for our children's futures.
I've been on an incredible journey of self-discovery, self-destruction and self-awareness and have emerged, thankfully, with humility, grace and wisdom that has now put me in a position to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that if we don't do something immediately we'll be in deep doo doo!!! As opposed to the even deeper doo doo that we're already in.
Our children don't need the tools of yesterday. We already have too many doctors, dentists, lawyers, shop assistants, graphic designers, bus drivers, bankers, fitness instructors and politicians don't we?
Our children need lessons in, ethics, integrity, values, families, humility, risk taking, team building, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, thriving and loving.
The result being that creativity will spring forth and unimaginable ideas will be realized to advance and change the current social structure.
Does all this sound a bit too flaky? Spiritual? New-age? Well it's not. I have a class on a Monday where I teach teenagers that everything is possible. I ask them to define their 'perfect avatar', whom they admire, what they ought to admire, how they can achieve their dreams. I suggest alternative jobs which most of them had never thought of. I encourage them to think out of the box, take action and see the beauty of life. And you know what? Our results are outstanding! In fact the headmaster is so inspired he's going to make it part of the curriculum in September 2014. So ALL the children will have access to this new way of thinking. Even the teachers want to join the class!
Arianna Huffington is starting a mindful revolution and I'm right behind her!