Freshman year of college I had a mini crisis :
I was deeply unhappy, had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be
So, with the restless inner knowing that I could no longer go on like us, I embarked on my journey to self-discovery.
This led me down different wisdom traditions, spiritual paths and self care practices.
But nothing has me face my inner struggles more than becoming a mother.
Through Motherhood, I am learning more about who I truly am every day, shading layers upon layers of the false egoic sense of self.
Yet our society tells us the opposite of this truth.
In fact, parenthood is seen as the least spiritual thing you could do.
Often described as stagnant, mundane or stifling.
It’s time to break these stereotypes with these top 3 revelations on spiritual growth and parenthood.
GROUNDED IN THE HERE & NOW
When I first took my daughter on a walk, she saw rain for the first time.
Her eyes lit up with astonishment at the raindrops falling on her pram cover.
I thought to myself, what would it be feel like to experience the world through the lens of a child?
- To be able to walk outside and really take in the beauty of the world.
- To let my imagination run wild with the hustle and bustle of the city.
Unlike us children aren’t chained to the past or future.
This is often why they cry one second and are dying with laughter the next.
This is what many religions label Presence.
A much more popular term in the West is mindfulness.
Our children not only inspire us to embrace mindfulness, they demand it.
Parenthood ( especially young children) require us to be on high alert at all times not only for their safety and well-being, but to foster meaningful connection as well.
INNER WORK
Every wound, insecurity, and fear I’ve ever had presents itself more in the context of motherhood. This is my opportunity to heal.
Tricia Rose Stone
Becoming a parent forces us to shed layers no longer serve our current reality.
It calls for us to reflect on our childhood and decide what aspects to bring into our parenting and which ones to keep in the past.
Our triggers is our inner child poking its head out to show us what needs healing.
Our love for our little ones pushes to reflect on over reactions, moving us down the path of deeper inner work.
The search for why to we do the things we do.
If your inner child could speak what would they tell you?
SURRENDER
Parenthood, in all its chaos, is the epitome of surrender.
While is our job is to nurture their true Essence, we accept their independence to experience the world on their terms.
For example, they might go offered a full ride to Harvard but decide to give it up all to move to China ( much to your opposition..)
This level of self acceptance and surrender is the focal point for many religions, such as Buddhism.