My brother, Michael, recently showed me a clever way he taught his kids to “trick” their minds when faced with something they resist. During my visit, he told his 4-year-old it was time for medicine, which brought instant tears. The anticipated taste was enough to cause a meltdown, so Michael reminded him they could use their “trick.” Here’s how it went: the kid got six small bites of one of his favorite snacks, strawberries. He’d eat three bites, then “sneak” the medicine in, followed by three more strawberry bites to wash it down.
The amazing part? The kid fully embraced the setup, narrating aloud: “Yum, a strawberry,” before “sneaking” the medicine in as if he were fooling himself. Michael didn’t even need to play along; the kid had shifted his own mindset to get past the resistance.
It’s fascinating, but this playful trick highlights a skill we all have—and use as adults. The difference is that instead of setting up tricks, we practice mindful exercises to reach similar results. Kids can be fully immersed in a mental game, even believing that they’re “sneaking” medicine past themselves. Adults do something similar, but our “trick” is to apply intentional mindfulness to adjust our attitudes, reactions, and sometimes even our beliefs.
Practicing mindfulness—whether through gratitude, meditation or just pausing to observe our thoughts—works in a similar way. By focusing our minds on what’s helpful or intentional, we create our reality. Just like my nephew’s strawberry trick lets him conquer the bitter medicine, mindful practices help us meet life’s challenges, reinforcing constructive thoughts like, “I can handle this” or “This moment is manageable.” These habits become our mental foundation, similar to how my nephew’s strawberries became his support to tackle the task he dreaded.
Mindful exercises let us build a habit of awareness and self-guidance rather than letting every passing thought steer us. By focusing on intentional responses, we gain clarity and control over how we approach life.
ACTION: Create a small reward around an uncomfortable task, like pairing something fun with a tough chore, and see if it makes it more manageable.
