Guest Author - Paula Petrie
You stretch and exercise to strengthen your body, but it’s also important to train or strengthen your mind. A mom needs a mind able to stay calm and in the present moment. Give yourself props. Meditation helps your ability to reason through emotional “reactions” and maintain a steady perspective, even though you’re surrounded by stressful or annoying “stuff.” Mindfulness practice can be as simple as sitting and doing nothing.
Mindfulness Meditation.
1. Sit where you can see your child in front of you. Sitting so you must look down slightly reduces distractions. Hold your mind in the present and let your breathing relax you. Just let your thoughts flow by.
2. Sitting up straight produces a better energy flow between your body and your mind. Visualize putting your bones and muscles in proper order. This helps you feel stable and strong. Let your thoughts go.
3. When you start “thinking” about something or going with a thought, let that thought go and bring your self back to breathing and being present with your child. Don’t tense up or force yourself. Just relax and breathe. Do this a few times a week, for a few minutes each time and enjoy a strengthened mind.
You are what you think. If like me, you have made a habit of emotional wallowing, (I lament over my mistakes and shortcomings,) then it takes a bit of remembering and redirecting to let your imagination drift constructively.
When you let your thoughts drift in a positive way, staying focused and in the present, you always gain in wisdom, renewal, or planning. You are giving yourself strength and insight from the positive energy flow instead of holding yourself back and allowing your thoughts to become stuck in worry or resentment, for example.
Tips to help:
Yoga or another daily exercise program, even going for a stroll around the block.
Reciting positive affirmations helps to change or redirect your thinking or habits. This overrides negetive mind chatter and strengthens self-confidence.
