What is Holistic Parenting?
When I started writing my book Holistic Parenting, this description came to mind because I wanted to look at parenting from the different roles I fulfill in my life: that of (Forensic) Orthopedagogics, mother, Mindful Parenting trainer, family therapist , family counselor and energetic therapist. It wasn't until I was writing that it dawned on me that the common denominator of all these roles is your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Getting these bodies in balance ensures that you feel supported during parenting.
But how do you balance each of these four bodies?
Using exercises you can bring every body into balance, making you feel more confident in your parenting and parenting with more ease and pleasure.
Physical body
You can use a body-oriented exercise, for example, when you feel sorry for yelling at your child or saying something unkind. The first step is to feel what physical sensations this evokes. Is this feeling of regret in your body hard or soft, throbbing or is it more like tingling and shooting. And where do you feel that in your body? In your abdomen, your calves or perhaps everywhere. Can this feeling of regret also be there for a moment? Want to really feel it, so that your body feels completely seen?
Mental body
An example of a mindset you might want to change is when you think: 'why did I do this now?'. This often includes the belief along the lines of 'I am not good enough'. A mindset change is to start thinking differently, for example 'I am a parent and I am learning and I am allowed to make mistakes.' These thoughts go to your subconscious through meditation and then become your new belief.
Emotional body
Examples of emotion-oriented exercises are practical energy exercises. For example, my daughter started having test-taking blackouts early in high school. Through simple house, garden and kitchen energy exercises she was able to feel her fears and the associated energy and give them a place and take the tests with the right focus.
Spiritual body
An example of a spiritually focused practice is spreading love; really see, hear and feel your child and yourself. I wasn't raised religious at all, and didn't really think about religion, spirituality, etc. all my life until I read about spirituality as increasing love. Then I was convinced, because I would like to contribute to that.
summarizing
Holistic Parenting is a way of parenting in which you are supported by removing tension from your body and focusing on the quiet, soft places in your body, converting unhelpful beliefs and intuitive information (images) into helping beliefs. . Becoming aware of your energy and what it wants to show you, knowing what suits you and how you can grow as a parent and feeling the collective bigger picture, such as the earth, the love around us and the process in which you are on this moment.