Jen Vertanen, founder, The Wholehearted Life
If you are a woman and you have children, you are a working mother – end of story with a great big exclamation point.
You may be CEO of an international company, budding entrepreneur, part-time student, or a stay at home mom; regardless of your title, the role of motherhood and all the lovely bits that come with are yours and yours alone and balancing life’s demands can be daunting at best.
Giving in to Life’s Demands
So many of us easily succumb to those demands (from children, spouse, family, friends, work, volunteering, you name it) because we want to be in service to everyone and everything but here’s the thing: when we give in to life’s demands, we stop being of service to ourselves.
We stop finding time to read a book or go for a walk or take that stained glass workshop we’ve been dying to try. We stop going away for long weekends with our girlfriends to relax and rejuvenate.
We can’t possibly find time to exercise or prepare a deliciously nutritious homemade meal because there isn’t enough time. Instead, we drive through McDonalds … again.
How often do you find yourself saying, “I can’t do that, I don’t have the time.” And how often is that “thing” you’re saying no to something that you would actually love to do because it would fill your cup, making you feel reenergized and refreshed?
I get it, I really do. I’m a mother of three and a budding entrepreneur. But here’s my question for you: Are you able to be as effective serving others if you’re not serving your needs?
Instead of feeling exhausted, tense, sluggish and, let’s be honest, sometimes resentful imagine feeling rested, relaxed, balanced, patient and energized.
- How much more effectively could you tackle the demands in your life?
- How could your relationships improve?
- How might your relationship with yourself be different?
- How could your entire life change?
24 Hours – The Great Equalizer
Each of us has the same 24 hours in a day. Regardless of our titles and demands, all of us are given the same 24 hours and here’s the really cool part ~ you get to define how you spend those 24 hours!
You get to say “yes” or “no,” you get to decide whether you return a phone call or take a bath, you get to set boundaries and limits – even with your spouse and children. And you decide if you show up in the world each day rested, relaxed and energized or tense, impatient and exhausted.
What’s Your Decision?
How can you find ways in your day to say no to something (or someone) and say yes to you? Let us know in the comments below. Then take a deep, cleansing breath and smile. You are amazing, you are a working mother and you are beautiful. Having trouble making time for yourself or making you a priority? Let us know that too, we’re a community filled with great ideas.
Jen Vertanen is the founder of The Wholehearted Life where she coaches and guides women to fall in love with themselves and their imperfectly beautiful and oftentimes messy lives. Jen can be found coaching, inspiring, dreaming up the perfect party for her clients, and sharing just a bit too much at http://www.jenvertanen.com, Facebook, and the Twitter.