As a mother, there are times that I need to take off all the other hats I wear, neatly package them up, and put them in a storage box for a later date. This happened to me recently. Except, instead of neatly packaging up my hats, I carelessly crumbled them in half and stuck them in any crevice that was open at the time.

For my family, 2017 went out with a bang (quite literally) and left us with a conundrum that required us to ditch everything and to wrap ourselves around one of our children who needed extra support at the time. And as with most family trials, we came out the other side stronger and with more integrity, even though our stresses made us act in unbecoming ways.

But that’s not what I’m here to talk about.

We all have times in our lives when our current story just isn’t that great. We could be suffering from a health issue, creating a stressful day-to-day existence; or maybe someone did us wrong, making us feel resentful and unlike ourselves. There could be financial issues, relationship struggles … you get the picture. But until we can truly own and move on from the chapter of our story that is holding us back, we can’t fully achieve a happy and successful life.

So I decided to unpack my hats today—to come out of the nest I needed to retreat to for safety, and to shine my light on others and back onto myself, as well. Maybe you can relate. Maybe not. But if you’ve ever had an experience that knocked you off kilter, here are some mantras to help you trod through the mud:

“I am enough.”

Last night, I ate French fries.

And I woke up feeling like my spark was snuffed out. It took me a half-an-hour on my bike trainer to get out my ya ya’s and reawaken that inner fire. Point being, as a mother and woman, there are many days when I don’t feel like fully showing up. And that’s okay if you feel that way, too. But instead of beating ourselves up by stacking more on our plates to make us feel worthy, we need to accept the way we feel and just let it be.

In any given moment, we are providing whatever we need to for ourselves, our loved ones, and our families. Let’s own that! And love it. And even when we’re weighed down by lack of sleep, too much volunteering, and a desk full of deadlines, we know that what we can give right now IS enough. Maybe that means just taking a nap. By all means, let’s give ourselves the permission to do so! Because in that moment, remember, there is nothing more the universe needs from us.

“I inspire others.”

I am riddled in self-doubt. But I don’t let it hold me back.

When we learn to accept our feelings of insecurity, self-pity, and fear, and move beyond them in an authentic way, we open doors for ourselves that may have been closed our whole entire life.

(This is the part of “loving your story” to pay attention to.)

Your inner purpose is the reason you wake up every morning. It’s the reason you wear your mother … teacher … CEO hat, and go out into the world with it on. One of the first steps in finding happiness is to figure out your unique gift, and then share it with the world. It’s the foundation that dreams are made of.

So if you feel the least bit stagnant with the current hat you’re wearing, dig deep, re-read your story, and figure out where your true passions lie. Then go out and share the love. People will dig it! And it will come back to you two-fold in abundance, I promise.

“I create a roadmap for my children.”

Kids learn by example.

So what happens when their Number 1 example is always stressed out, doesn’t regularly engage in self-care, and goes to a job every day that makes her unhappy?

Now, I’m not saying that’s you or me. But if even one of the above phrases strikes a nerve, it might be time to create a story you love. I see too many women peering over fences, thinking the grass is greener. Yet if their yard was well maintained, all they’d want to do is frolic in their own flowers.

I’m not perfect. But I’ve created a life and career that adheres to my priorities of 1.) Working for myself, 2.) Picking my kids up from school every day, and 3.) Having the time to play outdoors alone, and together with my family. My abundance revolves around my lifestyle choices, and the “work hard, play hard” mission my husband and I covet is one I’d like to instill in my kids. It’s a lifestyle decision that brings me into balance and gives our family the freedom of experiences. It helps me wake up each day with a smile on my face, loving the story we’ve created.

You see, I get you. And I know that together we can move mountains and live out that which we are meant to do.

Are you with me?

Good.

But first let’s learn to love our stories. And then shout them from the rooftop.

 

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