Raving testimonial from a dad practicing mindfulness
I’d like to share an unusual story-testimonial involving a client I had the pleasure of teaching at the start of the year. The transformation he underwent was remarkable, and it was incredible to witness his growth and shifts along the way. Truly inspiring!
That’s why I asked him for a longer testimonial than usual—to capture and reflect on the journey we both experienced. I also decided to write my own account of the events, so we could have a complete perspective on what transpired.
I’ve changed the names to maintain anonymity.
You’ll find my story below his.
Peter’s testimonial:
“My journey in mindfulness started unintentionally. My first session was about supporting another family member by tagging along. Now I think back on it, such a purposeless attitude probably gave me the best start. Back then I was obsessed with details and measurable targets in everything I do. In other words, I was always judging myself and everything surrounding me. When Laure showed us a different way to treat our mind and body, my perception changed significantly. I decided to have the private session with her so she can address my needs specifically. I am deeply glad that I made that choice.
It only took me a few sessions and some practice for me to sense something has changed in my mind. It is hard to phrase the changes in one’s mind. On the other hand, behavioral changes are more obvious. One of my most obvious changes after practicing mindfulness was how I handled my anger issue. I used to have a problematic anger issue that I got mad easily and it ruined the relationships with my family. They described me as having a “volcano eruption” at times. It came to a point that just my frowning would frighten them. I tried many methods hoping to control or to suppress the angry emotion but they all failed. During the mindfulness session with Laure, I’ve learned that instead of trying to get rid of our negative emotions, I should approach my emotions with kindness and curiosity. The guided meditation she has done with me in the session set me off on the right path. I was full of hopeful feelings at that time, and I was right.
After a month of daily mindfulness practice, I was able to be aware of my emotions and let them sit peacefully with me inside my body. My behavior changed in a way that my wife asked me if I was suffering to hold my anger back. I told her I wasn’t holding it back, I just don’t have that urge to yell at people anymore. One day, I asked my son whether he noticed any changes in my behavior, and he said, ‘Oh absolutely, you are much calmer now’. Affirmations from my family motivated me to continue the weekly lessons and practice every day.
Laure also showed me mindfulness is not only about sitting still and meditating. In one of the sessions she asked me to send wishes to people. I hesitated at first, guessing my friends might have concerns whether I was fine as I usually do not send greeting messages like that. I wasn’t aware that I was overthinking at that time. I did it anyway and reconnected with many people. I like these kinds of exercises where I can experience the gap between my presumption and the actual result.
When I explained to my friends what exactly I have done in mindfulness, I told them everyone can do it in a few minutes. It all started by taking notice of my own breathing, then step by step I have more gratitude about my mind and body. People always talk about exercising our body, I would say exercising our mind is equally beneficial.
I am grateful that I have started my journey in mindfulness with Laure and would love to share with everyone the benefits it has brought to me. Again, I tried my best to describe in words, but words can’t do it justice. I recommend learning mindfulness with Laure to everyone who wants to have a better mind and a better life.” ~ Peter
My testimonial to this experience:
“In December 2023, a family reached out to me seeking mindfulness guidance for their 15-year-old son, Liam, who had been grappling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Though Liam’s parents, Peter and Allison, had contemplated mindfulness previously, they felt the timing was right to explore it now.
Our journey began with a shared session in January 2024. It was a promising start, but things quickly took a turn when Liam’s anxiety and negative thoughts led him to withdraw from school. Despite the setback, his parents were determined to keep going. It was at this point that Peter, Liam’s father, decided to take on the sessions alone, diving deeper into mindfulness practices.
Peter confessed to me that for the first 2 sessions he was skeptical about the whole mindfulness thing. As our sessions progressed, Peter experienced a transformative shift, particularly during the 3rd session focused on kindness, which coincidently happened around an important Holiday. This newfound perspective led Peter to reconnect with old friends he hadn’t spoken to in years, fostering a sense of joy and openness. It was as if a light had gone on inside him, and it was amazing to witness.
The impact of this journey rippled through Peter’s family. His wife, Allison, and son, Liam, noticed that Peter was less angry and more engaged, sparking a positive energy that touched everyone in the family. And then, something magical happened: Liam, who had stopped eating dinner with his parents, started joining them at the table again. For Peter, this simple act of eating together was deeply meaningful, a sign that things were slowly changing.
Another touching moment occurred when Peter fell ill shortly after Liam recovered from being sick. To his surprise, Liam came to his room to check on him, asking if he needed anything. This was a new level of caring and connection, demonstrating the subtle yet powerful influence mindfulness was having on their relationship (through co-regulation).
During one of our sessions, I asked Peter to think about something he was grateful for. He hesitated, thinking maybe it was too small or not worth sharing, but when he told me about Liam checking on him when he was sick, I was moved. It was these little moments, once overlooked, that were now sources of joy and gratitude for Peter. Peter’s newfound awareness and openness to these small but profound moments were a testament to the power of mindfulness to transform relationships and lives.
Through his journey, Peter discovered that consistent mindfulness practice brought about a deeper sense of gratitude and presence. His dedication to daily practice, (he started meditating 30 minutes a day on his own will), he began to see the world differently, finding beauty in the seemingly mundane. His story is a powerful reminder that mindfulness isn’t just about personal growth; it has the potential to touch and transform the lives of those around us.
Every time I teach mindfulness, it’s an opportunity for me to deepen my own practice. This was no exception. I find the adult curriculum particularly powerful and engaging, and it’s always a joy to revisit the topics from a fresh perspective. Teaching this time was extra special because I introduced a few lessons for the first time, including one on biases and unconscious biases. I’d been eager to teach that lesson, so I was thrilled to finally share it, along with a beautiful guided meditation called “Just Like Me.” I plan to record this meditation and upload it to my favorite app, “Insight Timer.” Keep an eye out for its release—you won’t want to miss it!”
