Why Aren't We Teaching You Mindfulness | AnneMarie Rossi | TEDxYouth@MileHigh

In this powerful talk, an instructor bringing mindfulness to shelters shares her research into how mindfulness can set us up for success and break cycles of transgenerational trauma.
AnneMarie Rossi is the founder and director of Be Mindful, a non-profit association of mindfulness instructors dedicated to making the practice accessible to all. They currently teach in Denver Public Schools, St. Vrain Public Schools, Urban Peak Youth Homeless Center, and through the Red Cross. While recently completing her undergraduate work at the University of Colorado Denver, she won the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant to complete
research on the impacts of mindfulness instruction on 4th grade students in a Denver Public School.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ashlerodriguezpreciado386]

We watched this in science and my science teacher does mindfulness everyday and makes us write what we are great full for, and we are doing ten times better than we would if we didn't do mindfulness. I will forever be greatfull for what he has taught us.

[@thatguythere6780]

Ted talks literally made me a better human being

[@govindmishra910]

or just a better thinker and less doer

[@shikamarunara8920]

i became better as well

[@blueheaven4838]

Dear Ann Marie, your advice is worth it's weight in gold. Beautiful advice for teenagers. Wish I had heard you 20 years ago. God Bless you.

[@annemarierossi3174]

Thank you

[@SaraSara2022new]

it’s ❌its ✅

[@thatguythere6780]

the more I studied mindfulness the more I felt like mindfulness is natural , it feels so right

[@Andicus]

"The harsh truth is that it doesn't matter how righteous and justifiable your emotions may be. It's irrelevant. Because you will be judged based on your reactions and not your reasons." I feel this quote sooo much. Many things make sense now, I had a notion that was similar to this but never exactly realized this specific phrase itself. "You will be judged based on your reactions and not your reasons." I have been in many situations where I experienced this. Because I have what I think is a completely logical reasons to me, but then angered and upset that no one understands me. It's because my reactions were bad despite my reasons being good or understandable.

[@annemarierossi3174]

It brings me tremendous joy to know that something I said may have had a positive impact on you. The first step to fixing any problem is to acknowledge it. By making this post you have taken that first step. Learning practices like mindfulness enable you to control your reactions so that your reasons can be heard by your audience. It is where all of your power lies.

[@yuh4327]

( this is my 10th grade Heath hw) Remote work on Mindfulness What aren’t we teaching mindfulness in school?” Questions 1. What is mindfulness in your own words? Taking time to feel and see whats around you Mindfulness is being aware but being relaxed at the same time 2. What are the benefits of mindfulness? Being more aware, reduce stress Relieve stress and pain. Better overall mood. 3. How might you connect with your present moment? Deep breahing Live in the moment. Do one thing at a time. 4. List 5 main ideas from the video Mindfulness is the foundation for all learning. Mindfulness exercises are designed to train your brain to focus. Focus requires practice. Mindfulness isn’t about the ability to focus and pay attention. It’s also able to feel other emotions. Stress effects everybody.

[@bemindful5413]

This just made my day! Here are some of my own free mindfulness exercises. I hope you continue to practice. I give you an A :)

[@yuh4327]

@@bemindful5413 haha thank you

[@The_Viscount]

It is my firm belief that mindfulness is the key to world peace, and global sustainability.

[@alone-vf4vy]

It really is

[@cheahshuhuan2018]

I can't believe there is someone out there who has the same belief as me. Yes I believe that mindfulness is the ultimate skill for all human beings too. If every single person in this world practises mindfulness, this world will have zero pain for the rest of human history.

[@arcsimiteszik]

you are my soulmate dude!

[@waldodilone4516]

@@cheahshuhuan2018 Bold statement there o_O

[@eshabhatti9193]

RIP Kobe Bryant ;( Great talk, by the way!

[@mariaterrero7030]

Thank you for opportunity to watch this wonderful video, we have to take this information to all schools, specifically to this that not have the opportunity to get off the school. Wonderful job, thank you .

[@beautifulbuds]

BRILLIANT talk. This is TRUTH.

[@darthnex6954]

Kobe Bryant isnt hear with us no more :(

[@canalzahiratorres]

Fantastic! The best powerful talk among the best I have ever seen. I am studying mindfulness and this will be my master's degree research. My focus is making the practice accessible to Brazilian organizations, but now, I loved your focus. Perhaps this is the contribution of my life: show the importance of the management of emotions. I always had the mindfulness in me, but it had no name or technique ... When I discovered it, I discovered much, much more about me. A life in HD, paraphrasing Vasco Gaspar, with whom I have been learning a lot. Thank you for your words. Excellent! You inspired me! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are brilliant!

[@MarTinkaBell]

Love this! I hope your missions gone well!

[@ratanavaro]

Thanks you, Mindfulness is the best

[@sumeetsharma4283]

This is the perhaps the Best, no BS talk like others do trying to rationalize it by decoding our brains.

[@gordonmunch898]

I'm very grateful to TED TALKS. I'm very thankful.

[@pvspeaks]

Change will happen one mind at a time. Awesome talk about Mindfulness. This is what our youth need.

[@steakovercake3986]

Thanks so much for speaking out AnneMarie!

[@cubixgamez6456]

Stoicism would definitely benefit today's society.

[@TheLeslieTripathyLegacy]

Thank u Ann Marie

[@AmaroInnovision]

The Basics of Buddhist Meditation Dr. C. George Boeree Buddhism began by encouraging its practitioners to engage in smrti (sati) or mindfulness, that is, developing a full consciousness of all about you and within you -- whether seated in a special posture, or simply going about one’s life. This is the kind of meditation that Buddha himself engaged in under the bodhi tree, and is referred to in the seventh step of the eightfold path.

[@louisamiles5620]

Annemarie you made me smile, think and take action last year after I saw your talk...I am going to teach Mindfulness, fast forward to today I have just finished Mindfulness Fundementals and I am loving my practice. I cannot wait to share with students / parents, everyone!!!!!! Thank you.

[@nicollelafleur9697]

Excellent talk! As a mindfulness teacher in a school, I appreciate your reinforcing messages. I'll share this widely. Thank you for putting together such an excellent talk!

[@annemarierossi3174]

Thank you!

[@duncanstuart77]

Having completed my Master's degree in Education : Emotional Education (Atlow Mill Centre for Emotional Education in the UK and University ) and having just completed additional training in Youth Mindfulness I am, having watched this TEDx, in the present moment, feeling even more optimistic and enthusiastic to implement this process of teaching Mindfulness to children as it truly meets my needs for purpose and meaning in life not to mention developing a more peaceful world. My engagment with Emotional Education and Mindfulness started with me recognising that I needed to take responsibility and do the work on myself first and for most. I'm so pleased I did as I am so much happier ad a result :-)

[@shikamarunara8920]

thanks for sharing that , i enjoyed the video and learned alot from it , it is nice to see the comments react to tedx which isnt always the case like sometimes there would be only 5 tp 10 comments

[@GirlAlmighty93x]

hey Duncan, thank you for your comment! I just stumbled across it and suddenly it struck me.. This sounds like what I would like to do in the future, but I just was not sure where I can be taught this subject or if it even exist at all! Wow, I feel so much more optimistic about my career now, thank you so much :)

[@-tu7cuocsong]

You speak very well, mindfulness benefits humanity. Thank you very much.

[@churchladyhugs]

She nailed it!

[@selavie.praxis]

Wow! What a great speach and how true it is. Love it

[@clairemcwilliams6515]

I absolutely love this - very inspirational xxx

[@shikamarunara8920]

this is why i like this channel, it is like a gold mine . i find a video from last year or one that was uploaded less than an hour ago then i find out that this is what i wanted to know. i learn something new every day thanks to this channel :)

[@mtlim9146]

What a great advice given in such a convincing way . Great speech and thank you

[@siddharthrayadu9707]

Talks to change world, mindfulness talks.

[@principalsteadele5899]

We purchased the MindUp curriculum and are implementing it school wide.... firm believers!

[@annemarierossi3174]

The research study I conducted used a combination of MindUp and Mindful Schools. If you would like I would be happy to talk to you about best practices for implementation. Not all mindfulness programs are the same. The ones that are the most impactful and sustainable share some key qualities. I can be reached at [e-mail]

[@WinstonGarland9]

Thank you for sharing these gems... Mindfulness allows us to stop at the intersection... of Reality and Crazy Lane and choose which way to turn poverty is traumatic trauma changes the brain... mindfulness practice can teach children how to manage their emotions and change their behavior instead of reacting we can reflect and respond. Mindfulness allows you to take control of your future Change will Happen by choice YOU ROCK

[@rubencosta880]

great words! continue to teach this kind of knowledge ! that what people need ! One love for your work ❤

[@jayantavva]

This was a great talk, AnneMarie. I'd like to ask the same question. Why isn't mindfulness being taught in schools the world over? Also, I suspect that many of the self image issues that children face through growing up in an unconscious culture would be resolved before they became real issues if only children were taught mindful living. Thank you for your passion in this talk.

[@karikamperman655]

+Jayant Avva Hi. It has to do with corporate propaganda. If you look up Noam Chomsky on corporate, media, and agenda propogandas, you will have your answers why we don't teach these important life lessons to the children.

[@jayantavva]

+Tahlula Park You may be right, Tahlula. I'm aware of Chomsky's views, and suspect there's a lot of truth there. Regardless, I guess the way forward is multipronged: a grassroots movement for mindful schooling born out of people listening to TED talks such as this; learning to be mindful ourselves; constantly learning more about the learning process and about developmental psychology; and lots of other creative ways. We may not change things immediately, but we will if we keep at it. Thanks for your response. :)

[@RuthGarner]

Mindfulness is transformative. It's difficult to begin with if you are always on the go always plug in. But if you try just for a few minutes a day to start. Over time it will gently evolve and you will transform into a happier more focused and balanced version of you. Namaste x

[@cemrebaygoren4094]

Had the urge to applaud at the end hahah Great talk!

[@madrocha12]

The practice of mindfulness and prayer did not only save my life, but my relationship with the ones I love. Great explanation!

[@irielion3748]

Prayer is like talking to yourself - spend your time more wisely.

[@rasanjalaweerasekera3922]

Wonderful talk, beautifully presented. Well said, well done! Awesome!!

[@annavilaseca3254]

Gracias por tus aportaciones me ayudan a mejorar.

[@ImpowerYou]

Yes!!!!! Totally true. I've been practicing mindfulness and cn feel the positive changes in my life.

[@leonardocosenza429]

How long did mindfulness take to feel the benefits?

[@user-ej7yg7kj7k]

Awesome !! I am proud of you AnneMarie.

[@annemarierossi5484]

ＳａｔｏＲｙｕ Thank you Ryuichi that means so much to me!!!

[@sergiocov]

You are a fantastic speaker. Bravo

[@rajinderkaur-hk1ot]

Wonderful talk

[@athanasiospastalatzis4999]

"(...) They were the ones who could focus. Pay attention. Regulate their emotion". Listening to her opening while I am 33 diagnosed with ADHD and think how against me is the whole system and typical expectations.

[@yakmanok]

Beautifully presented. Very timely message.

[@catgirljourney4593]

girl i thought you were a teenager- a hyper evolved adolescent talking to your peers- until i read you have teenagers and work with teens etc. good for you!!! and whom you touch with your message.

[@annemarierossi3174]

+kimi slayden HAHA! Thanks! Today is my 40th Birthday :)

[@ReallyHappened]

Yes, I also thought you were a teenager until the video started then I realized you were a grown up, but you dress very girly, haha!

[@amitavaroy4709]

Really a great message and you are really very beautiful !

[@annemarierossi5484]

Thank you ☺️

[@georgemarsone]

WOW AMAZING.....THIS INFO IS PRICELESS.............THIS IS A WAKING UP PROCESS.........

[@azadahoramazda3775]

Such a great talk. Bravo

[@ReallyHappened]

Wow this is excellent, such a powerful lady and so full of wisdom and knowledge. My husband and young son would both benifit immensely from this, they have problems managing their emotions. Of course, we could all benifit from this and would love to know more. Indeed children should be taught mindfulness at school so that they could improve not only as human beings but their overall grades! Love this!!! Thank you.

[@creamrising]

Thoughts and the gaps between them are rocks with edges and cliffs from which they fall. Mindfulness smooths out those edges.

[@cariadgriffin]

congrats for coming out :D 3:17

[@jrjohannes1]

Amazing!

[@ricepirates15]

Well said AnneMarie!

[@michaelmike1515]

So powerful. I nearly cried. Mindfulness and Eckart Tolle have helped me so much, I can barely described how it has changed my life. The process was painful and I only managed it with help but: To leave my addictions behind me and become present and mindful is the greatest relief and freedom I have ever experienced.

[@meetan-]

I am practising mindfulness nowadays , very useful indeed , I reget I didn't get to know this decades ago which would have made my life much better and colourful... Better late than never.. Fantastic presentation... She looks so young and beautiful for her age having teenage kids , I think it is because of living her life mindfully..

[@samirjhaveri3719]

Excellent speaker Very impressive

[@davidgee3665]

mindfulness is multitasking on a single thing.

[@N8teyrve]

I dare say mindfulness is the foundation for all other UNLEARNING

[@CCalquemist]

Im starting to practice mindfullness with a couple of online courses and a book I borrowed from my uni. I have plenty of faith in this, because I already used the concept of "being present on the moment" to notice when what Im doing is productive/positive or a waste of time, like noticing the moments when I started using fb for too long without actually doing anything.

[@angelica3368]

Thank you! one of the best Ted Talks on Mindfulness Meditation. I so appreciate you sharing. It's such a powerful practice.

[@scentsoftravelmeditation]

Great speaker!

[@sharonlemay4826]

Bravo!

[@jasonharvey4028]

If there was one secret "The Establishment" kept from the people that would build humanity an absolute UTOPIA of futuristic science fiction awesome advancement,, it is the practice of mindfulness. I am so thankful I looked into this years ago, and this voice inside, calmed is what some call God. Source speaks through us continually.

[@annemarierossi5484]

+yzeew Psalms 4:4 "Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still." The Old Testament was written 950 years before Buddha was born. The idea that meditation is eastern religion is a western fallacy. Just ask the writers of the Philokalia. Mindfulness is a universal truth like Algebra. We do not refer to Muslim Algebra even though Islamic clerics ( Al-Khwarizmi) were the first to discover it and the word Algebra is an Arabic word. You can have religious individuals who practice meditation just as you can have secular individuals who practice, the two are not interdependent.

[@vishnubeepat4421]

Perhaps all that is correct, but Meditation did not start with Buddha only! What about in Hinduism, where it has been practiced for 1000s of years, and even recorded in the Vedas, which are the oldest religious text in the World. So, you're totally wrong in using the words, "western fallacy."

[@annemarierossi3174]

You are correct Vishnu, the Vedas do speak of meditation but they are not the oldest written texts. Sumerians wrote religious texts beginning in 5000 BC the Vedic text began in 1750 BC. Dr. K. Loganathan, an expert in Sumerian translation, believes the Om mantra originated in Sumerian texts in 2300 BC. All of that aside, perhaps our disagreement is rooted in the attachment of meditation to mindfulness. For me, mindfulness is a way of being present and there are many tools (meditation being one) that can train your mind to be in this state of awareness. One does not need to meditate to be mindful. Meditation trains the neural network making this present awareness more easily accessible particularly during challenging times. However, research out of the Langer Lab at Harvard as well as my own personal experience shows that one can achieve this state of mindful awareness without meditating. I would argue that all human civilizations practiced this in one form or another (communing with nature and with self) even before written word was created.

[@lucillesaraco8636]

Excellent!

[@alirezaeivaznezhad]

Great speech!

[@Iamsacredrebel]

This was amazing! So many great points. I left my teaching job to bring mindfulness to many kids, not just my class for the year. My hope is that I can get this message to as many as possible!!

[@HemPat56]

A wonderful talk ...

[@randomnumbers84269]

All in all I liked the talk and it inspired me to start practising again more regularly. In the end she missed a bit though: kids (and adults) can take responsibility of their own lives by self research. They don't need to ask their schools to bring experts to teach them when there is so much free material available on the internet. Just google it.

[@annemarierossi3174]

We agree to disagree. Research is pretty clear that a qualified instructor dramatically changes engagement and sustainability. When given access to free tools roughly 50% of participants will even log-in and less than 10% will complete the courses. A study published last month from the Cleveland Clinic compared group training to online only individual courses. Between 42-52% of all participants never logged in to the online program and only 7% of the online only group regularly logged in. 94% of individuals in the group supported programs reported practicing mindfulness at least once a week and maintained this rate throughout the program. At the 1 year mark 0% of the online students were still practicing while 75% of the teacher lead group were engaged in daily mindfulness practices. Interpersonal neurobiology has shown us that our brains are social organs and learning is optimized when leveraging this truth. Some individuals can learn best on their own but those are few and far between.

[@Son0fHobs]

Wow, thanks for those details and the solid research to support it.

[@KrittinKalra]

Turnipkin As they say, where there is a will, there is a way

[@Sarah-said]

That was awesome!

[@lakshmir1333]

Greatest understanding

[@chopin4321]

13:07 mindful breathing allows you to find calm, and focus, peace in the chaos. so simple...so true...so unknown...thank you...

[@jbaby007]

I know her personally! Woot woot. She's the shit! Love you Anne Marie - Tez

[@mrdennis1038]

This is an amazing talk. I will be showing it to my children many times!!

[@kevinaparicio8451]

Hola desde BCS México wooooooooooooooo es maravilloso su trabajo, y afortunado es cualquier persona que sienta emociones depresivas, Sad and down sure wen, your public ending your exposition the curiosity move many people's for quest the true. And maybe winner the prime part of the breakbrain of !!!

[@decide4kamal]

Totally agree. Great speech.

[@cooperdejoy2842]

u agree? ... lmao

[@peacenluvgirl2990]

Thank you for your talk and your work. I am a high school English teacher doing research specifically on the connection between meditation/mindfulness and reading and writing. I've found some pieces by James Moffett, but I am struggling to find the kind of material I need. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. : )

[@sunset33533]

The mindfulness book "30 Days to Reduce Anxiety" by Harper Daniels is good. It has 30 exercises for meditation and mindfulness that are helpful and practical.

[@miggyc.117]

“& I was once, 900 years ago, a teenager myself.” Lmfaooo I love you, Anne Marie!

[@annemarierossi5484]

Love you too Miggy 🤗🥰

[@cmindenhall]

f yeah, AnneMarie!

[@msamanda8380]

Mind Up is an excellent resource for Mindfulness practices. Miss a full curriculum with lesson ideas and cross curricular connections. It's from the Goldie Hawn Foundation

[@EnBarLor]

Just Feel. FEEL.

[@azzurres1]

1000% correct.. without this base .. everything else is not good.. it is the fundament.. idots had lead us.. there must be a change in the school system. this is the cause why there are so many children without any fun in school

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

interesting, awesome, relevant, disciplined

[@inspiredmindfulchildren7140]

This is absolutely inspirational- Thank you Ann-Marie Ross :)

[@simplementeslibres9725]

Excellent! Thank you for spreading the love!

[@dharanacounsellingmeditati5062]

love this! so well said

[@alexg3348]

Well done! Great thoughts to pass on

[@reillyng2005]

When my teacher showed me this I was blown away

[@ilerioluwakiishionyekachfa960]

nOiCe

[@mindrestcenter4176]

Truth

[@squirrel36274]

ive just turned 26 and I barely am now figuring this out. I lost my job to my emotions and stress that I had building up in me, yet never knowing how to or what to do with, or anything about WHY iwas feeling this way. 2 years of unemployment, no one to help me see through to this. many many mannnny times I wanted I planned to kill myself, but thank god, I habe to say.... I didn't, ive been learning and researching mindfulness, positive affirmations, the secret, my attitude, my thoughts, emotions, the universe and lots and lots of other things that have greatly helped me get out of depression, and see a vision for my future again. I've yet to receive a job, however I know for a fact, it'll be a great one and that I'm more than ready to start! I know how beneficiary I'm going to be and can not wait to relive my life. Also I know now that if I may fail, fall... to take it and learn from it, to not let it drag me back down. because I AM IN CONTROL!

[@kaamilpankaj]

Good for you. Mindfulness will work for you but we need to treat mind as a muscle. More we train and practice healthier it be. All the best and enjoy the bliss living within you.

[@dokhtaroneh]

I suggest to you to read the "Slight Edge" book. This book changed my life completely.

[@kellygaebel8664]

This made my heart so happy, I hope you are thriving now my friend

[@philwashington7568]

Mindfulness.... Key to life challenges.

[@slayagecentral]

Great talk AnneMarie! But what's the answer to your question? Why aren't we teaching Mindfulness to all layers of society?

[@maliabalthrop3461]

+slayagecentral That is is multifaceted issue rooted in ignorance and inequality. For many this practice isn't taught because they don't know or understand the science and they continue to believe it to be spiritual. For others it is about access. Mindfulness instruction from qualified teachers is not cheap and most additionally require travel. This is why we do the work we do (to make this practice accessible to the masses) by educating, researching, and removing barriers (cost, location,etc).

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodge1436]

"Kobe bryant" that didnt age well

[@riyasharma478]

very interestingly presented

[@riyasharma478]

I think I found out what I need. thank you

[@TirotaiSeaview]

actually the longtidinal study you mention comes out of Otago University Dunedin New Zealand.

[@annemarierossi3174]

You are correct. I apologize for misappropriating it to Harvard when in fact it was Duke and Otago. The study is lead by Dr. Terrie Moffitt from Duke. The additional authors are from King's College London, University of Otago, University of Illinois, and McMaster University. www.pnas.org/content/108/7/2693.full

[@mindywashere]

that.was.awwwwwwwwwwwwsome

[@Tentrunks]

Of course teachers could really benefit from mindfulness too....and policy makers...etc. Being mindful is like waking up. The lack of mindfulness teaching in school comes from policy makers who are still sleepwalking.

[@sevadance]

www.k-12yoga.org/

[@kidatplay9380]

are there any links for midfulness practice ? i would like to find out more...

[@rajithadeegala7649]

Lord Buddah had a plan for people to become mindful in a certain manner. We have being practiced it since 6yrs old here in Sri Lanka under the Buddhist culture. We meditated since 6yrs old without even knowing what meditation is. I believe most of the cultures has these practices but in different ways.