Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
Mindful ActivityBoost Your Parenting Confidence

Boost Your Parenting Confidence

Write yourself a thank you note to serve as a reminder of your parenting strengths when times get tough.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

Hi there, Sam here. (bright gentle music) You're beginning the second of two mindful activities for this lesson. In the audio lesson, you learned about the importance of affirmations. Now we'll continue by exploring ways to craft our own affirmations. Think of this as a thank-you note to yourself, to have in your parenting toolkit as a good reminder during the most difficult times. In today's practice, we'll introduce two more questions that we can ask ourselves, to get clearer on what we most want to remember and focus on. So feel free to grab a journal, or a piece of paper and a pen, to jot down whatever comes to mind as you practice today. And before we get started, we'll just take a few minutes to get comfortable and grounded in the present moment. So let's start by finding a comfortable seated position. Just take this moment to bring some length to your spine, inviting your body to land here. Allowing your shoulders to relax down away from your ears. Letting go of any tightness in the jaw, and just allowing your eyes to close, if that feels comfortable for you. And let's take a few slow deep breaths, breathing in through your nose, and out through your mouth. And on your next deep breath, feel your lungs and belly expand as you breathe in. And then feel the lungs deflate as you slowly breathe out. And again, take one more deep breath, seeing if you can make the exhale just a little bit longer and slower than your inhale. And now allow your breath to find its own natural, easy rhythm, just noticing where in your body you feel your natural breath. And you can return to this anchor point at any time in the practice. And now we'll invite a question, not forcing a response, but just getting curious and open about what you notice, whatever it is. And the question is, what do you most long to hear from a trusted parent friend or loved one? Perhaps it's something reassuring about how you're parenting, or maybe something loving, something that affirms you. Just imagine what someone you love and trust could say to you that would be deeply comforting. And just notice what's arising, allowing your experience to be just as it is, without forcing anything in particular to happen. And the last question we'll ask ourselves is, what do you want to know for sure? Or what do you want to be certain about? You may notice a wish to know that you're safe, that you're supported, or that you're loved. Maybe other things are coming to mind, as well. Just making space for whatever is showing up to be just as it is. And then take a slow, deep breath, wiggling your toes and your fingers. And if your eyes are closed, feel free to open them now. So take some time now to write about what came to mind. And then you can...

Details

TypeMindful Activity
Duration6 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'Boost Your Parenting'

Your Greatest Parenting Resource

Advice6 min

Lesson 4 - Hint: It’s free and something you have control over.

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice