You deserve to be nourished and honored as the radically capable and loving woman you are – and you’re just the person for the job.
But wait, is your inner “guilty mom monster” siphoning away all motivation for you to dip into the harmonizing waters of self-care instead sticking you in a perpetuating cycle of putting your own needs last?
Let’s be done with that – let’s move you up on your list of priorities.
Begin weaving the following practices into your daily way of being so you can blossom into the most vibrant version of you.
- Separate Your Emotions from Your Child’s. Do you feel intrinsically linked with your child’s well-being? Do you hurt when they hurt? Do you fill with joy when they fill with joy? While these shared emotions can be a testament to the strength of the mother-child bond, they also prevent you from supporting your child without fracturing your equilibrium.
To begin separating from your child’s emotions, practice the following technique next time they come to you in a state of distress:
Take a deep breath and as you exhale envision a golden shield surrounding your being, a shield that will protect you from absorbing your child’s energy. Next, allow this golden shield to settle you into a deep state of calm so you can approach the task of soothing with enhanced composure.
- Practice Meditation Moments. Instead of sitting in meditation for one chunk of time, which can be tricky for many mamas, sprinkle moments of meditation throughout your day.
For example, when you come across a beautiful flower, pause to notice and appreciate its essence. When you receive a soft hug from your child, close your eyes and really feel into what a tender moment you’re sharing. Or, when you’re taking that first sip of coffee or tea in the morning, observe the sensation of warm liquid moving down your throat and waking up your mind.
- Choose Three Words to Guide Your Day. To infuse greater purpose and satisfaction into your days, select three words each morning that you will use to lead your day — then commit to tasks that align with those words.
So, if your words are “Connect, Create, and Cleanse” you could focus on making time to connect with loved ones, spend a stretch of time working on a project you’ve been putting off but know will “fill your cup,” and commit to cleansing your body and home by eating detoxifying foods and clearing clutter from an area of your home.
- Go “Adulting” With Your Partner or Friends. Getting out of your home (that space that is often full of ‘to-dos’!), connecting with humans who see you as more than a mom, speaking without censorship, eating and drinking delicious treats, dancing without inhibition, or doing anything else with your partner or friends that reconnects you with the wild woman at your core will send you back into motherhood feeling refreshed and more rooted in your authentic self.
- Mix Scheduled Activities with Spontaneity. Keep your brain firing and spirit dancing by shaking up your days with spontaneous activities. Intentionally insert breathing room into your schedule so you can be free to take your child on a last-minute date to a museum, take a nap (!), have an ecstatic dance party in your living room, or just lie on the ground and breathe for ten minutes. Keep your life fresh with impromptu mini-adventures.
Now go forth and kiss your life with joy, intention, and energetic sustenance – you’ve earned it.
Bailey Gaddis is the author of Feng Shui Mommy. She is a Childbirth Preparation Educator, Birth Doula, and Hypnotherapist who works with pregnant women and their offspring every day. Visit her online at www.baileygaddis.com.
This article is a part of the April / May 2017 issue of Whole Life Times.