Do nothing! Set a timer for five minutes, and then sit quietly doing nothing other than breathing, and letting your thoughts pass across your mind without judgment like clouds passing across the sky. Try not to check the timer. Don’t make plans for what you’ll do when the five minutes are up. Try this challenge with your kids. Next time you’re considering giving your child a time-out, give both of you the time-in together for five minutes of silence. Will you need courage to set aside the busy-ness of your life for five minutes? Sometimes, when we don’t build time into our lives for quiet contemplation we become reactive instead of mindfully responding in line with our life-affirming values.
