Meditation experiment by my 10 yr old

[RGG]

A few days ago, I mention in conversation to my 10 year old that I'd heard humans only use 2 percent of their brain capacity (not sure if that's accurate or not) and he was totally horrified. He said that was a total rip off:).
The next day, he comes home from school and announces that he figures he got his brain up to about 3% I was a bit confused but he explained that he decided to experiment in math class because it was boring. Intrigued, I pressed him for the details and he said that first you have to be very relaxed, he said that you can feel that it's happening in your forehead and he rubbed where the third eye would be. He said it feels like when you just wake up and your senses all work better and you notice things around you more.

I was kind of amazed since he's really the sporty/ warrior type of boy who is ruled by his emotions and I don't usually see a lot of introspection from him. Plus, I've never taught him how to meditate.

Anyway, I told him I thought that was really cool and that he would have to teach me how to do it since I've been practicing meditation for years and haven't had that kind of success. Then he tells me he thinks it might just be a kid thing :D

Apparently.

He also tried again the next day but said it didn't work because he was "all riled up" and that you have to be really relaxed for it to work.

He's said his new goal is to aim for about 13%! :O

He knows that I meditate with EE and has heard snippets of the audio but I've never done it with him. Kind of funny how he put that all together himself and it was so easy. He was very descriptive of how it feels when your brain is working at 3% and his descriptions seemed to mesh with some of the observations we've found on the EE thread.

Will be an interesting call from his teacher if he keeps this up!

 

[ka]

Hi, Rx:

How very wonderful!

 

[Palinurus]

Thank you very much for sharing this, Rx.

A big broad smile was spreading all over my face while reading your account. I guess my inner child recognized something profound in your son's way of experimenting, especially when he didn't succeed the next day and his explanation for that failure.

Wonderful, indeed.

 

[Flow]

Anyway, I told him I thought that was really cool and that he would have to teach me how to do it since I've been practicing meditation for years and haven't had that kind of success. Then he tells me he thinks it might just be a kid thing :D

Apparently.

Very wise insight! :) This is great, thanks for sharing!

 

[lilyalic]

That's amazing! you must be a great influence on him :)
I wonder if the amazing imaginations children have caused him to be able to see it in the way he did in his mind.

 

[MusicMan]

Rx,
Some people in their search for truth go up mountains and down valleys.
Others leap from mountain top to mountain top.
I think your son is unbounded by any programming which establishes limitations on his intellect. He must be destined for great things.
I'll look forward to you producing evidence of his improved intellect.
Good luck!

 

[RGG]

Rx,
Some people in their search for truth go up mountains and down valleys.
Others leap from mountain top to mountain top.
I think your son is unbounded by any programming which establishes limitations on his intellect. He must be destined for great things.
I'll look forward to you producing evidence of his improved intellect.
Good luck!

You know, SO many people who have met the little guy have said that to me! His father and I are always sceptical since he's so difficult to live with. He has frequent tantrums since small over insignificant things and really struggles to manage his emotions appropriately when events don't match his expectations. He spilled water on his shorts the other day and began swearing and ripping them off like they were trash and threw them on the floor I also have a teenage daughter and a preschooler and he is easily more work than the two of them together!

We have an appointment to have him visit a local specialist in neurofeedback therapy to see if there is a way to help him actually. I know you can't know him very well but for me, it is always nice to be reminded of how great a kid he is so thank you for the encouraging words MusicMan :)

If you don't mind, I would like to read your post to him since he can get quite down on himself for not living up to the high expectations he puts on himself. I think it will give him the confidence to continue to follow through with his experiment.

I'll update this when he reports more results!

 

[MusicMan]

Rx, I don't think that could hurt.
Two ways I can think of for increasing the intellect are to learn music and play an instrument, preferably one you can sing along to (mine was guitar) and the other is to learn languages.
Some of the smartest people I have met have been those with multiple language skills, such as those from Macedonia/Yugoslavia area. They grow up speaking the languages of the countries around them, as well as their own. I attempted to teach myself Greek and Hebrew.
Perhaps another way of increasing the intellect is to develop social skills such as public speaking/debating. This will increase self confidence at least.
Others on the forum may have further suggestions.