How to Be a Mindful Motivated Mom (Part 2)
I don’t have time to add anything to my plate. Life is just so busy.
Sound familiar?
Do you feel so overwhelmed with the “busy life” that your mind is in a constant fog or a thick smoke?
You’re unsure which way is out, so you continue stumbling through, repeating the same things every day.
What if there was a way out? What if there was a balance?
This is where self-awareness comes in.
Wait…before you run because I’m adding another thing to your plate…hear me out.
How can you take care of yourself when you don’t make time?
How can you take care of yourself when you say yes to everything, leaving no room for you at the end of the day?
How do you even know what type of self-care will rejuvenate you if you don’t take time to ask yourself what you enjoy in life?
How will you ever get out of the fog, if you’re not even sure of the direction you want to go?
Self-awareness is knowing yourself.
It is knowing your emotions, your values, and your desires.
Ironically our lack of self-awareness is draining us even more.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of life and forget to stop and ask ourselves some simple questions.
If we don’t, we might look up and realize five, maybe ten years have gone by, and because your head was down, you missed so much, and you’re not sure who you are.
You are a mom, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. Maybe you’re an overachieving employee, or an overnight side hustler, or a burnt-out stay-at-home mom.
But who are you? These are names given to you by others, but who are you and what brings you joy?
This awareness has empowered me to create a life I love living, without sacrificing anything in between. I am still all of those things while being true to myself.
It allowed me to give myself permission to say no to things and stop living by everyone else's rules.
It may seem like a mountain, so I wanted to break down some tips on how to actually bring self-awareness into your life.
Quiet the noise
Self-awareness is an inward exercise. It is one where you can recognize your values, apart from any other person or thing.
The noise of everyday life tells you who you are supposed to be. The first step is to tune out this noise.
Self-awareness is a journey of unlearning habits long engrained in your mind and body.
It’s asking yourself why you reacted in a certain way and what you might do better.
And in growth and practice, it becomes the ability to pause in the moment before you react.
Get comfortable saying no. This step may be the hardest. You might not like some of things you have to sacrifice. They might feel hard now, without seeing the impact they will have down the line.
Give yourself permission to put YOU at the top of your priority list. One of the hardest parts about self-awareness is the start. You have to give yourself permission to make space for it. You might even have to put something down to make space for yourself. You have to start saying no and (gulp) maybe even momentarily letting people down.
Bonus tip: If you’re not able to give yourself permission, I’m giving to you right here. This was written for you. The mom runs around caring for everyone else and forgetting who she is on the inside. You have permission.
Find what works for you
Self-awareness doesn’t have to be sitting on a toga mat, humming chants and talking to yourself. Any type of self-care should be catered to you. Test out some options and find what feels best to you. Here are just a few:
Start a journal and use it as a safe space to explore your thoughts
Find moments in your day that already exist.
Have a long commute to work? Try turning off the podcast or music once in a while and spending this time with your own thoughts.
Take a walk and leave your phone behind
Explore self-awareness through conversation with a therapist or friend
In any of the above, you will start to find the magic of a momentary pause.
In this pause, you can ask:
What are my values?
Why did I react that way? How could I have reacted differently?
Do I really mean what I am about to say?
What is my body trying to tell me in this moment?
In starting a self-awareness practice, there are some things you should know:
It is not a quick fix
Sometimes it may feel like you’re going two steps forward and one step back.
I’ve beendoing this for several years and I am still learning and thats OKAY!
Celebrate the little wins
The first time I found myself pausing before reacting, my brain lit up like fireworks
I was so freaking proud of myself.
So now, when that happens, I make sure to pause and celebrate how far I’ve come.
Whether it is a little moment like that, or even the fact that you are sitting down afterwards to evaluate the moment - these are mighty wins!
So here’s the thing I’ve realized about this journey of self-care and self-love.
To recap, building a self-awareness practice is a journey. It requires us to tune out the noise, get quiet and find space in our days. It may require us to say “no” to certain things and to put ourselves first on our priority list.
Find what works for you and celebrate the little wins along the way and you will be amazed at what happens
It can empower us in so many ways and it can help us slow down in a fast-paced world.
I hope you found the second part of this series inspiring. Keep an eye out for Part 3 to learn more about how self-awareness can empower your mind as a busy mom.
In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram in my DMs. I’d love to continue this conversation with you!
Keep chasing your dreams and showing up as your whole self!
