Namaste: The Light in Me Sees the Light in You

Namaste: The light in me sees the light in you.

After watching a video clip of a close friend on Consciously Woman, I felt happy and inspired. The smile on Sherri’s face, her energy, her laughter, and her passion, and most of all, her willingness to do what she sets her mind to with the belief that there is no other option. My reaction was simply this, “Sherri! You are so inspiring. It gave me goosebumps. What I absolutely love about it is that you made me feel as if I could do anything I set my mind to! Start small, but just start! And watch the journey unfold. I really love this, thank you!

It made me think about my own life.

In the past, I seem to have had the bad habit of looking at my reflection and picking the parts I didn’t like. This has never made me feel good, at all. That is exactly what it was, a bad habit of feeling that I was never good enough; no matter what I did, I came up short. I had lost myself, wrapped up in the lives of my family members, and living through them, making sure they had what they needed.

I believe this to be a common feeling, for any mom. Or for most people in general. We dedicate ourselves to our children, to our job, to anything other than ourselves. But we tend to forget that we are important too. And our well-being is just as, if not more, important and that we should come first. 

So what is it then, which inspires me to be positive? What is it that makes me look in the mirror and say “Hey! You are beautiful, inside and out. You are enough and you are worth it!”?

Self-love!

It’s the one thing that keeps me moving forward. It’s a reminder that no matter what, I am secure within myself. Self-love isn’t selfish. It is a necessity. We cannot give from an empty bucket. I have tried it, and it does not work. I am left feeling exhausted, depleted, frustrated, and irritated. 

There was a window of time (quite a large one) after having kids where my life was consumed with depression and anxiety. If you have ever been here, you know that it affects everything. I would wake up feeling heavy and exhausted. The days seemed to float by, but I wasn’t actually living.

Something needed to change. So I took charge of it. Sometimes it’s easier said than done. But I started out small by getting out of bed with a morning routine that included taking some time for me.  

I made sure this happened before anything else. I would wake before the kids; make myself a coffee, sit down, and just chill. That’s it! Simple! But it meant that this time was just for me and even in doing just this, things started to change. I would look forward to my one hour every morning. It slowly evolved. It’s something I still do to this day, and it’s probably been seven years since starting. Now, it’s not just a coffee and a sit, it’s listening to soft music, it’s gratitude journaling, it’s light stretching, or sending out love through my posts. But it’s something I set aside every single day. I fill myself up first. I still sometimes have those down days, but they are just a reminder that it’s time to work on loving myself.

As the kids get older and become more independent, things become easier. I have more time for myself to do the things that make me feel amazing. It’s dedicating one day of the week, every week, to do one thing (or 10 things) just for me! 

It’s Self-love Sundays. 

Sunday is my day to make sure I take some time, over and above my morning routine, to fill my soul. This past Sunday, I did a face mask treatment. Something that is enjoyable, smells amazing, and leaves my skin feeling supple, giving it a healthy glow.

I have also incorporated yoga into my almost-daily routine. I try to do it five out of seven days a week. It feels amazing – it works, it’s motivating, it’s something I want to do. And for now, this is that something. It might change at some point, but it will be replaced with something else I love. 

Inspiration begins with a thought, a desire. It’s up to me to decide to begin. Baby steps are an effective way to get to where I want to go. It’s a journey, not a destination. 

So, what are you waiting for? 

Take a look in that mirror, and say “I am beautiful, inside and out. I am enough and I am worth it!” Because, you are! Go for what it is you truly want, because you deserve to have it!

Written by: Krystle Rhea; Just Breathe Mama