Wisdom from Motherhood

My personal journey to and through motherhood is constantly evolving. I have always been dedicated to healing and self-awareness but becoming a mother has taken that healing to a whole new level. There is no denying that I have had to take some real hard good looks at myself and this journey has taught me more in the past year than my entire existence. Here I am sharing four pieces of wisdom that motherhood has gifted me.

Listen to and Trust Your Intuition

Your intuition is your best asset in life. As a mother, it is your super power. People may offer advice or you may read articles online about what you should do as a mother but your intuition always prevails over all. It is that soft yet firm inner voice that guides you throughout the day. It’s a lightbulb that tells you what your baby needs and it is your connection to the truest parts of YOU.

The first step in hearing your intuition is to be present and grounded in your body. This was difficult for me prior to becoming a mother because I didn’t always feel safe in my body. Yet, with practice my intuitive voice has gotten louder and clearer. When you are grounded in your body you can begin the journey of being comfortable in it. Hence, in a comfortable body, your mothering intuition is sharpened. For example, being able to trust your intuition to determine whether your baby’s simple sneeze is just that or warrants a call to the doctor, can create ease in the mothering process. We were born with mothering instincts; we just need to practice how to trust them.

Try this exercise to hone your intuition: Begin by closing your eyes. Take three deep complete slow breaths. Feel yourself in your body with the intention of feeling grounded where you sit. Invite Mother Earth’s energy into your body. I like to imagine energy flowing in through the bottoms of my feet and through my pores. With every breath imagine yourself sending roots from your feet into the earth’s core, further strengthening the feeling of being present in your body. Try this exercise for 5 minutes daily.

Prioritize Self-Care

Motherhood is also about taking care of yourself. I have found that it is very easy to become consumed by your role as a mother, which is why it is so important to continue feeding your soul with the things that bring you home to yourself.

I personally love to dance, sing, cook and make jewelry. Sometimes, simply sitting in my backyard listening to the birds sing is all I need. When I feed my soul, I have so much more to give to my son. There is a lot of truth in the saying, “You cannot fill from an empty cup.” I encourage you to listen to those inner nudges and do something for yourself at least once a day. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired and for more ideas read: Advanced Self-Care here on Voicebowl.

• Treat yourself to a massage
• Do yoga or go for a nature walk
• Take a bath and set the mood with candles and music
• Try acupuncture or book a Reiki session. Try Reiki at Journey to all
• Dance to your favorite music

Love Fearlessly

Before my son was born, I lived with a shield over my heart, protecting it from all kinds of pain. Believe it or not a closed heart doesn’t actually protect you from feeling pain. Instead, it prevents you from living and feeling fully. Since the birth of my son, I find my heart opening more every day. It may sound silly but the realization that I will not live forever hits me several times a day and as a result I find myself with a renewed desire to live a life beyond the unnecessary baggage and love unconditionally. Life is precious and we aren’t promised tomorrow. So, do yourself a favor and don’t hold back on the love and joy you hold within.

Surrender Your Need for Control

Accept the things you cannot control. As a perfectionist and a recovering “Control Freak” this has been the most challenging lesson but I guarantee that letting go comes with greater inner-peace. Motherhood is teaching me to face the unknowns of life with faith. We don’t need to have everything under control in order to be ok. Most of the time, control is a trigger or a coping mechanism for something that is happening deeper and it shows up in many different forms. Perhaps, it’s controlling the way your body looks or maybe you try to control what your child or significant other is doing.

In learning to relinquish control, ask yourself these questions: “How do I really want to feel in this moment?”, “Is control really going to bring me that feeling?”, “What is the worst that could happen if I surrender to this moment?” Answering these questions can help you understand how and why you feel the need to control. Remember that control is only an illusion and the relief that is brought on by controlling a situation is only temporary. The reminder that helps me the most is that the path of least resistance always prevails. So, go with the flow fellow mothers.

Motherhood, just like life is a work in progress. I am learning to accept myself as I am and I still continue to put these nuggets of wisdom into practice every day. As you grow as a mother, remember to have patience for yourself and grace for your mistakes because low days will come and high days will always follow.

Visit Alizee on https://www.journeytoall.com/ and on Instagram @theevolvingmother