13 Weeks ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter. Only one thing changed: everything.
This is my first post a.b. (after baby) and I’m excited pick up my proverbial pen again.
I tried my hand at writing a few weeks ago, but my life was so shaken that its particles were still swimming around in my head, making it impossible for me to see things clearly.
It’s a cliche, but motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to me, and also the most challenging thing.
It brings about a big transformational force, speeding up my spiritual growth, because I simply to have to. Postponing growth is not an option.
Last year I’ve been writing about the mindful Benedictine monks and their wise take on everyday life.
I find mindfulness a key practice for the wonders and aches of beginner motherhood and I try to practice it whenever I can.
1)
In the beginning, when I was breastfeeding my baby, I would always keep my phone handy and fidget with it. Then I got an aha-moment, when I realized with shock that I didn’t want to miss this out on this precious time with my daughter!
So I put my phone away.
In came little islands of joy, gratitude, peace and being present in these beautiful moments.
2)
One advisor of mine once said: mindfulness is being in the moment and NOT occupying yourself with:
– the past
– the future
– what other people think of you
(Or, your own self-critical voice for that matter…)
Being a mom, I find myself thinking about all three of those joy-sucking moment-stealers. Especially fear about the future (what if…happens) and questioning my abilities (am I good enough).
3)
I heard a speaker in the GTD virtual study group podcast state that time is expandable: that is: our notion of time expands when we pay close attention to details: being mindful! On the other hand, time seems to compress itself when we’re attempting to multi-task or when we’re rushing through our day.
I’m happy to have the Benedictine tool of mindfulness at my disposal. Now putting it to practice!
If you’re a mother or interested in time or mindfulness I’d love to hear from you!
Simple & Inspired Living 
Hello New Mother 🙂 Letting go of ‘stuff’ has become my new credo. It is so important for us to live a life filled with important moments – but we need to be in the moment itself in order for it to become a memory.
I am a mother of three…one already in university…and two I home school. I have had to learn so much along the way. Some good and some bad – but all important for my life. I am ordering the Benedictine Toolbox…it has been on my list of ‘must read’ books!
Enjoy this time fully. Don’t allow time-stealers to be part of you life – at least not too much :<D m.
Hi mindful mother Ester,
I recognize something in your post because of the way I live during a couple of months. When I read this: “time seems to compress itself when we’re attempting to multi-task or when we’re rushing through our day”. Two weeks ago I felt the need doing a step backward. Working for 50% now. Hope to find rest in doing ‘nothing’ in the afternoon and take a short time for creativity (90 minutes) daily. Recovery of a great loss needs time. There’s no recipe, no medicine. Just time. The way to recover is for each person different. A couple of weeks ago I start using my ‘Benedictine toolbox’ again….. For example reading “Ich bin mude” by Anselm Grün. This Benedictine monk wrote a wonderful, encouraging book that reminds me to read Isaiah 40 : 12 – 31 again….. God is good
Peace and Blessings,
‘DIAC’