Mindfulness: A Path to a Kinder You and a Better World
Mindfulness: A Path to a Kinder You and a Better World
Mindfulness: A Path to a Kinder You and a Better World
Hey there, awesome young minds! Ever wondered how you can make a big difference in our world? Being a changemaker sounds like a big task with big shoes to fill. Well, I've got a somewhat easier but very impactful secret for you: it's all about something called "mindfulness," and it's like a magical wand for making the world a better place.
Imagine this: You're on an aeroplane, and they tell you to put on your oxygen mask before helping others. Why? Because you need oxygen first to fill up your lungs before you can help others. And guess what? Mindfulness is your mind's superpower!
Mindfulness means paying close attention to the here and now without judging. Like when you pause and think before reacting to a friend's comment or when you notice how much plastic you use and decide to use less. Mindfulness helps you understand your feelings and problems better, so you can make choices that make you and the world happier. It's like planting seeds of kindness, such as helping a classmate or cleaning up a park, and watching kindness spread all around.
Now, here's the big "aha" moment: Being kind to yourself makes it easy to be kind to others and our planet. Think about it: when you're happy and strong, you have the energy to make the world a better place.
Imagine if all of us changemakers practiced mindfulness every day. We'd become like kindness superheroes! We'd make small but impactful choices like using less plastic or saving energy, and guess what? These small acts help our planet stay healthy.
But that's not all! Mindfulness also helps us be kind to our friends and neighbors. When you're mindful, you notice when someone needs a friend or a helping hand.
And here's the best part: by being a mindful changemaker, you inspire others to be kind and mindful too. It's contagious, spreading a wave of goodness all around you.
So, remember, you don't have to change the whole world at once. Start by being a kind changemaker to yourself. Practice mindfulness, be kind to others, and watch the magic happen!
Voice of Ivy B. Ogbu
Ivy B. Ogbu is a sustainability specialist and a former UN employee with a passion for sustainable development. She is the author of "Raising Change Makers with Cyril”, a children’s book series that makes complex Sustainable Development Goals accessible
and inspiring for young readers. Ivy hopes to empower children, educators, and parents to take action for a brighter, more
sustainable future.
Favourite book right now?
Empowering Global Citizens: A World Course, Fernando Reimrez et al.
Favourite lesson at school?
In retrospect, while I disliked biology at the time, it was the only subject growing up that gave me my first ‘aha’ moment, which is the interconnectedness and interdependence of all life on Earth.
Favourite animal/lifeform?
Elephants.
Favourite hero/heroine?
I never had a hero/heroine – I know, it’s weird. But I have been inspired by many people, especially women such as Joan Ruth Bader I never had a hero or heroine—I know, it’s weird. But I have been inspired by many people, especially women such as Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jacinda Ardern, Malala Yousafzai, and the list goes on—it is super long!