Finding Your Joy
What makes you laugh? What makes you feel alive?
As a new mom, life can get a bit monotonous and overwhelming at times. Yes, absolutely, there are a plethora of amazing moments - your baby’s first smile and sounds, the way his eyes light up when he sees you, the snuggles and her soft baby skin. There are, also, days where you feel like you are going through the motions and feel guilty that your day doesn’t feel amazing.
One piece I would love to share with every new mom is that doing something daily that brings you joy can go a long way. It helps you lay the foundation for taking care of you, so you can take care of others. So, what makes you laugh, smile, or just plain feel good? What allows you to breathe and relax? Well, go DO that! Even if it is just a mini piece of that.
For example, I love going hiking out in nature - it grounds me and brings me peace and an inner sense of calm where I can just let go of everything else for a brief moment. When I was in my early days of motherhood, it wasn’t always possible to go hiking with my newborn, and it definitely was not easy, so that’s where the creativity is needed. What can be a mini piece that brings you a similar sense of joy? For me, taking off my shoes, and standing in the grass soaking in the sunshine serves as a great mini substitute. It grounds me and reminds me that it is okay to take care of me. I can just be in that moment, even if it is for 2 or 3 minutes.
I don’t know what your happy place or happy piece is, but I do trust in your ability to get creative and find something that will work to bring you joy each and every day. Think warm drink in your favorite chair while chatting with your BFF. Think yoga stretches for 10 minutes that honor your recovering body, but get the blood flowing. Think movies or videos that make you laugh out loud. You know - you know what’s right for you.
These little pieces of joy may not seem like much, but they go a long way in helping you acknowledge that you are a priority as well. Many women think that motherhood means they need to be self-sacrificing, and yes, there are things we give up as moms, but we also have the opportunity to gain so much - to gain wisdom about ourselves and tap into our newfound strength and potential. We have an opportunity to choose joy and find happiness in what is around us, instead of numbing ourselves as we go through the motions. It is okay to make time for YOU when you have a baby. In fact, it is highly encouraged as joyous moms add to the beauty that exists in the world. So, upon closing, my question to you is what are you doing to do today that brings YOU joy?
Danielle Hughes is the Founder of Mothering Life and a mother of two. She is an INNATE Postpartum Care practitioner and provides information and resources to expectant and new mothers, so motherhood can be the celebration that it is meant to be.