Meditative Story Building trust in ourselves, by Rohan Gunatillake
Aug 19, 2025
A father reflects on a holiday in Tenerife, watching his son navigate the journey of learning to swim. Their emotional connection grows as he moves from a hands-on helper to a mindful observer, embracing the importance of trust and independence. The discussion encourages listeners to practice letting go and realizing that mistakes are part of mastering new skills. With themes of perseverance and the joy of achieving challenges, this engaging narrative inspires confidence in both children and parents alike.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Holiday Swim Breakthrough
- Rohan describes a family holiday in Tenerife where his seven-year-old son Arne practices swimming without floats.
- Arne trains for hours, improves his breaststroke, and gains confidence while Rohan shifts from hands-on support to watching.
From Supporting To Watching
- Rohan realises parenting sometimes means moving from active support to patient observation as children gain skill.
- He links this shift to mindfulness: two modes of attention, involved and detached-but-aware.
Practice Watching Not Controlling Breath
- Begin by taking deep breaths and notice how directing them feels compared with just observing them.
- Use this to feel the difference between intervening and simply watching your experience.