This is one of our favorite videos about motherhood. Since Wednesday’s post was on loosening the bonds of self-criticism, it seemed fitting to consider all the things that moms do each day which go unrecognized. It’s exhausting to think about but deserving of our attention.
Instead of putting ourselves down, we need to remember to pat ourselves on the back whether anyone else does. To appreciate all our hard work which keeps our families going. But it’s Friday, so for now have fun with this YouTube video and take some me-time this weekend.
Everyone starts the New Year’s with the best intentions. Determined to make changes to improve their lives in significant ways. And what happens? Most of us fail miserably. Instead of aiming for the moon, we need to undertake small, attainable goals. Like practicing self-care 15 minutes a day (which many have remarked is difficult enough).
Breaking the change into smaller steps can make it easier to achieve. For example, if someone wants to lose 50 pounds this year, start with losing 1-2 pounds each week. To do this, a person has to reduce their daily calorie intake by 500 calories each day or increase their activity to burn an extra 500 calories a day. Doesn’t this sound less daunting? By changing how we think about our goals, we can improve our motivation and persistence.
Likewise, it’s important to set our daily attention on what we want to do different. When we get up in the morning, spend 5 minutes visualizing the desired change and let it be known that “Today I will make this happen.” Once the intention is set, go about the day normally. Remember, life responds to what we put our attention and intention on.
Finally, if we get off track, don’t become self-critical. Since what we think about expands, this only leads to feeling worse and diminishing motivation and persistence. Instead, use this as a learning opportunity to re-evaluate what may need to be done and re-calibrate the next step. Each moment affords a new choice. Success is only a step away.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to express gratitude for what you are thankful for. While this tradition often gets buried beneath mounds of stuffing and mashed potatoes, Ann and I believe it’s an important practice to remember. So, we want to thank all of you for LIVING Self-Care with us and sharing your comments and lives. As our Thanksgiving gift to you, here’s a holiday song to enjoy with your pumpkin pie.
Please share it with all the moms you know to express your gratitude for them. And for other songbirds out there, send us or upload in the comments a video of you singing along, and we’ll put it up. Or if you have other original songs redone to holiday favorites, send us or upload in the comments a video of that. Who knows? It could be your ticket to fame (lol).
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