Is it hard for you to cope with the responsibilities of parenting, and do you feel like you understand nothing about fatherhood? You don't even dare to imagine having children because of the fear of the unknown?
Don’t worry! No one has ever been harmed just by becoming a parent. But in this article, our team won’t be giving advice — we’ll leave the floor to a real father!
Shared by Patrick Trompitz!
First of all, let me tell you — I’m not an expert in this. Being a father isn’t easy, and the advice I can give you comes from hard times. I had to remind myself once again how helpful breathing techniques and meditation are. I had to apply the yogic wisdom of Sri Sri in real-life situations — both as a teacher and as a father — in order to be able to share something of true value with you today. The advice I’ll give you might not be particularly original, but it comes from my heart and it worked for me.
One of the things I discovered is that regular meditation sharpens your mind and your ability to find your own solutions, rather than just applying some generic theory or idea. The more easily you “high five” your daily meditation practice, the more clearly you can assess situations — even the difficult ones.
Speaking of difficulty, let me tell you my story briefly. As a father, I’ll also mention some books and courses that helped me along the way.
Life, death, and hospitals…
Natasha was born two months early. Her mother — my wife at the time — was suffering from a serious condition called early-stage eclampsia. It’s a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy that can develop into full eclampsia and coma. Natasha had to be delivered as soon as possible… and placed in an incubator. Cesarean sections really are, as Robin Williams once said, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat — blink and you’ve missed it! Then I went to see Natasha in the incubator; she was lying with her back to me. I gently whispered her name. She heard my voice, turned around, smiled for a few seconds, and fell asleep again. Scientifically, newborns aren’t supposed to be able to smile yet — but just take a look!
The following two months were the most intense and nerve-wracking in my already busy life. I had to manage my business while also taking over the responsibilities of my wife. It felt like I was the CEO of two companies — I had to go to the hospital every free moment I had, where the two people I loved most were fighting for their lives. I had to care for them and bring vegetarian food and milk that weren’t available at the hospital. There were moments when I was on the verge of collapse — like the day the doctors called and told me there was a “situation,” they “didn’t know what was going on,” and “couldn’t tell me over the phone”...
Anyone who’s stared at monitors, listening to the rhythmic beeping of vital signs, knows what I mean.
What got me through this period were breathing techniques and meditation. Every time I meditated, I regained focus and carried out my duties with a fresh surge of energy. I was also very lucky to speak with Sri Sri a few times.
So here is tip number one for fathers:
Learn pranayama and meditation — and if you’ve already learned them, use them, especially in difficult times. Life won’t magically turn into a bowl of cherries, but you’ll be able to stand tall and move forward, no matter what happens.
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