As a mom, it is necessary to practice looking inward. Motherhood is demanding, and because it doesn’t come with a manual, it is easy to look for outward validation, to look for someone to tell you that you are doing it right and that you are enough. Your joy, peace, and fulfillment in motherhood do not have to come from other people. I believe that to be the best mom you can be, you have to look within yourself, here’s why.
What it means to look within yourself
Looking within yourself means practicing self-awareness and self-reflection. It is not being afraid to take the time to ask yourself the hard questions. Looking within has a way of reminding us of what is most important to us. In the busyness of life and motherhood, it is common to find yourself juggling a lot of things and piling up even more responsibilities on top of that. Consequently, you compromise on things that are meaningful to you, the things you should be prioritizing.
Only you know what you truly want
Nobody knows what you want better than yourself Mama. You know the kind of woman and mother you want to become. Looking inward helps you to stay connected to your true desires because that understanding doesn’t come from the outside. Yes, guidance may be needed from time to time but you know best, never forget that. Always looking for validation and approval from the outside suggests that you see your own philosophies, ideas, and conclusions as invaluable. Be bold enough to decide and stick to what matters despite what society has told you!! We are fed so many ideas on what a good mom is and how we should have a good life. It is time you lived a life that reflects your true values.
It improves your mental wellness
The mental load of living a life that is contrary to what you want and believe is a lot. It is one of the biggest reasons why I lost myself in motherhood. Do not be afraid to take the time to sit down with your thoughts (you can do this through journaling or therapy which help with the processing of thoughts) and work through questions like:
- Who do I was to become as a woman who is a mother do I want to become? Am I headed in that direction or not?
Looking outward will not give you the answers! Taking the time to pause and ponder will help you with your mental wellness.
It can help you become a better mother
Looking inward leads to self-awareness which improves two things:
- Your ability to recognize and celebrate your strengths
- Your ability to recognize and work on your weaknesses
The one thing that is a common struggle for us as moms is celebrating our wins, big and small. Can you relate? Do you move like nothing happened after you win at something? And when you fall short, do you tend to dwell on that and let mom guilt take its toll on your self-confidence? That has to change. Strengths stay and remain active where they are celebrated and they leave or remain dormant when they are not. Celebrated strengths boost confidence which increases happiness and I have found that I am a much better mother when I am happy with myself.
Practice looking inward for your personal growth and fulfillment mama. Let me know how you practice self-awareness and self-reflection and how it has made you a better mom.
