Thousands of children around Australia are returning to school this week. It’s a time of fresh beginnings, of anxiety, excitement, new friendships and relationships – and not only for the children, because parents are equally feeling the mixed bag of emotions.
Parents worry about their children, mostly. But what about ourselves? Do we ever think about the learning experiences we will have publicly, outside of our comfort zones, that will shape us and create our futures?
I became a mum four years ago. I’ve since learned how to be accountable for my faults, my reality, and ultimately – my happiness. I’m sharing the lot.
Overcoming chronic anxiety two years ago opened my eyes to hidden signs and symptoms of unhappy and UN-empowered mums, who were brushing off bad moods or poor health as just ‘bad days’. With my inspired hand, I started writing day and night about the responsibility we have to ourselves to heal from the inside out, and be free of anxiety and stress (even if we don’t believe anxiety or stress is present in our life).
Now I’m aware that I only have to ask for help, or visualise the outcome that I want, to bring myself back to an empowered mindset. I can recognise when my manifestations turn into reality. I know every moment is perfect and is paving the way for the next perfect moment. I know how powerful I am.
I’m not one of those people that brushes bad moods off as ‘just a bad day’. I know, through my experiences over the past few years, that little thoughts can reveal big emotions that are impacting on life in big ways. And I enjoy exploring.
I want to share what I am learning, and have learned, with you.
I’m a learning mum. I’m a learning wife. I’m a learning house-keeper. I’m a learning woman. I’m a learning human being.
Via this blog and my books, I’m posting what I’m learning every day to connect with other parents, and to validate that they are not alone if they feel or experience the same range of emotions that I do, as a natural and intuitive person and parent, and as someone who possibly (just putting it out there) experiences anxiety as an early parent.
I blog and share my experiences with you, at the same time exposing myself as an everyday, time-pressed, exhausted, house-wife and mum who has fairly high expectations of myself (expectations that, like many, have their roots in anxiety about control and safety). I want to relate and learn from other mums and I want to convert unhelpful, negative energy to powerful, rewarding, positive energy.
How my writing can help.
I choose to see all of my experiences that frustrate, challenge, sadden, infuriate, or weaken me, as opportunities to learn and grow and improve my perception of life, the way I live, and my experience as a parent.
2014 is a year for being real.
I’m going to start the year by being ok with being me … the inspired part as well as the very human part that needs nurturing from the inside-out. I wonder how many other parents can be REAL WITH ME this year?
Will you accept yourself – with all your faults – as perfect and perfectly lovable? Will you recognise that ‘bad days’ are a great opportunity to do some digging and reflection on emotions making big impacts on your life? Will you stop worrying about what other people think, and do some inner work to change for a better life experience?
As usual I feel just like a child that is starting first day at school, who will make mistakes in front of the school room many times throughout the year. And I feel good about it because by now I know the lessons are well worth the experience.
Day by day we aim to repair our bodies and have trust, faith and optimism for the future. You can join me as I walk to wellness in the private facebook group Joanna Haley Homestead (Journey to Wellness)
Joanna Haley, Author