5 WAYS TO EMBRACE YOUR DREAMS RIGHT NOW
This is the perfect time to do it.
One of the things that I admire most about my mother is her generosity. She’s the most giving person I know. She told me that one of the reasons she pours into me without hesitation is because she wants me to know that I’m supported when following my dreams. Even now, as a mother. She wants me to feel free enough to go after what I want, and have no guilt along the way. The reason why this is so important to her is because she, like many of us moms, know what it feels like to push our dreams to the back burner...to put them on hold. To wait until that perfect moment.
I’m quickly learning that in the midst of these interesting and evolving times, one of the most important things that us moms can do is to run full speed in the direction of our dreams.
One day our daughters and sons will thank us. Showing up for ourselves every day not only shows them that making a dream happen takes work, it also shows them that they too can accomplish what they imagine. Here is how I’m putting my dreams in motion, and how you can too:
TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY: When it came to blogging, recently I fell OFF. I watered down my dreams and pushed them to the back of the closet. I didn’t prioritize or pour into my passion the way that I’d initially envisioned. I’m dedicated to changing that. With all that’s been going on, I also started thinking small. Trying to just survive, not thrive. Now I’m here to play BIG. I envision my blog growing and expanding into other great things. It’s time to say this out loud and make it so. This is the time for accountability.
GIVE YOURSELF GRACE: Us, parents are living through an unprecedented time. Moms are for sure carrying the weight; momming, wifeing, housekeeping, work-keeping, sanity saving and entrepreneuring all at the same time. Challenging is an understatement. It also presents a unique opportunity to get really honest about where we’re at overall, and meet ourselves there. When we do that we can create change inside and outside of ourselves. I am not perfect and we don’t have to be. We don’t have to embrace that Claire Huxtable image of doing it all flawlessly. I’m sure Mrs. Huxtable had some support! I haven’t slept 8 hours in forever. Sometimes dinner is late. My kids are NOT in bed by 8pm every night. I’m still trying to figure out how to lose the baby weight nearly 3 years later, and trying to master potty training the second time around. (As much as I didn’t want to admit it, boys are for sure more challenging to train). I still approach childcare nervously due to COVID. My man works in healthcare and sometimes that makes me nervous. I still struggle with feeling like I could be doing a better job at momming and spousing. All of this is beautiful, because it’s real. Maybe giving ourselves grace and even sharing some of the real, we can bring about change. Both in and outside of ourselves.
BE CONSISTENT: I am here with you. I am committed to change because I know that I can do better. I am meeting myself where I’m at. I am growing and changing. I’m ready to step into my power as a healthy, whole woman and mom. I’m developing a rhythm in my life that welcomes rest and self care, while allowing myself to be a more present, engaged and happy partner and mother. To raise healthy and whole children, we need to be healthy and whole ourselves. I’m ready to be more consistent. Consistency is the only way to break and build habits, to move forward and excel. And as Dr. Thema says, to come home to yourself.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO START OVER: It’s OK to start over again, and again, and again. As women, especially as Black women, sometimes I think we feel ashamed if we don’t finish what we start. If we move onto different things. The mamas and aunties in the back may say it’s haphazard to not have it all “together,” or figured out. We’ve gotta stop buying into that narrative. SO WHAT if your first business failed or if you changed careers a few times, (like me). Keep going. Keep growing. Moving forward is where you’ll find the magic, even after you’ve found what you’re looking for. Prioritize your wellness, go after your dreams and passions, pick them up and start again, and again if needed. Our children don’t care about our imperfect dinners. They remember how you make them feel, the attention you give them, the love and support. In order for us to be those rocks, we’ve gotta pour into ourselves—consistently. I’m over 40 and just figuring out how all of this works. I’ve started and stopped, failed and won, stumbled and got back up, and I’m doing it again.
THERE’S A CONNECTION: Long-term success, health, and wholeness go hand in hand. They compliment each other seamlessly, and are also all a process that consistently need fine tuning. It’s important to remember be kind to ourselves, give ourselves grace, and stay accountable as we journey forward and become intentional about living our most supreme lives.