A New Balance

How motherhood is teaching me to prioritize myself.

Raise your hand if you've tried using the same approach in a new phase of your life, even though you knew it would require something different. 

🙋🏽 (mmmeeeeee).

When I entered the mommyhood phase of my life, I thought I could keep operating the same way as I did in my twenties. I leaned into that notion partially because I missed how good I felt then. My mind was clear, I was fit, creative, and disciplined about getting my work done. There was a certain flow that I had grown accustomed to, and I wanted that flow back. I figured if I just copied and pasted my old routine into this new phase of my life, it would bring it back. But it didn't. The effort to return to the way things used to be led to burnout, which wasn't new to me. However, this time was different. 

Athletics Nautical Lobster Crew (sweatshirt)

The level of awareness you gain when becoming a mother is profound. All of your senses are heightened. It's funny — during a conversation with my husband, I told him I'm basically a superhero.🦸🏽‍♀️ Not only because I had a newfound ability to juggle so much at once but also because I could feel the burnout happening before it reached its peak. Sadly, I did not adhere to that superhero sense, and I kept going. I had overextended myself so much that my body began to ache (as if I had done an intense workout), my hands were swollen, and my head was throbbing. If I had pushed myself any further, it would have caused some serious damage. So, I had to stop. It was time to find a new balance. 

Levi's jeans

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Motherhood revealed that I was prioritizing external achievements while convincing myself I was prioritizing self. It opened my eyes to the importance of paying attention to the signs in my body. Our body often tells us when we need to make a change before our mind can even process or accept it. I had to have another hard look in the mirror moment with myself and completely change the way I was moving to serve this new chapter of my life. 

It's not easy to change a routine that you've been used to for years. Especially when we live in a society that operates and praises a hustle mindset. But you won't be able to achieve anything if you're completely depleted.

I was trying to take things into my own hands instead of allowing God to guide me in the way I should be operating. My stubbornness overpowered my ability to hear God's guidance, so the signs of the need to change showed up in my body. I literally had to have a moment of stillness and not move on anything to hear and be guided to what I should do next. It was only in that moment of stillness that I began to see a new balance for my life. I've entered into the part of my life where it's imperative that I put my health and wellness first, something I never really considered before now. Becoming a mom sparked a new desire in me — to live a long and healthy life for my family, which requires me to prioritize my(self).

As we journey through life, we are not meant to stay or operate the same. The evolution of our existence demands change in many ways, and most times, that change requires us to find a new balance along the way. So, as you enter into new phases of your life and discover new ways to balance, remember to explore beyond the surface. 

*New Balance gear (shoes and sweatshirt) was gifted for this post.*

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