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Which Path Will You Choose?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by in connecting, growing, living

Sometimes life provides you with a clear path. You know where to go. You know what to do.  You trust what comes next.

Every once in awhile you may have to stop and look at the map. You get familiar with your surroundings. You decide which road to take. You get comfortable with where it’s going and you know how to get back if you make a wrong turn.

Sometimes you take one wrong turn, and then another, and another until you are completely disoriented.  Tired.  Confused.  Lost.  And there is no map to guide you.  Which way will you go next?  What’s around the corner? How will you survive out there in that big, scary, uncertain world?  How will you return back to yourself?  Who will you become when you get back on your path?

Some things along your path are incredibly clear. Ah! You get it. You simply know – what to do, where to go, and who you are – and that feels really good. But then, there are other times in life that are cloudy, unseen, unheard, raw, confusing – and you have a choice to walk on by or sit on the rock awhile, and look a little deeper, until you discover the beauty within and all around you.

Sometimes you let others lead the way, and other times you know when to follow your own path. Sometimes you go at it alone, and other times you need the loving support of family and friends to carry you through.

As you are searching and exploring the rough terrain, you may get muddy.  You’ll have to get your hands dirty.  You’ll have to dig and search and be patient and trust the process of life.  It might be really hard work.

But with time, dedication, and an openness to receive the support and love you need, you will find new discoveries that can change your life forever.

Your Personal Reflection:

You have two options in life – to choose a path of love or a path of fear.  Which path will you choose?

*******

Someone really close to me is going through a lot of pain right now and it is taking up much of my time and energy.  My heart is saddened, and yet, I have such gratitude and respect that my loved one is reaching out.  My blogging will be less frequent for a bit while I offer my support. I’ll be back soon.  (Mark your calendar for May 1st – that’s the day registration opens for the next session of Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery e-course.)

Be well…

 

 

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A New Day

Posted on April 8, 2012 by in growing, living

Every day is a fresh beginning.  Every morn is the world made new.

-Sarah Chauncey Woolsey

Your Personal Reflection:

What steps will you take on this new day, in this new moment?

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Let Go of Labels and Become Who You Are

Posted on March 23, 2012 by in living, mothering

Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird, could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself.  When you look at it or hold it and let it be without imposing a word of mental label on it, a sense of awe, of wonder, arises within you.  Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you.  -Eckhart Tolle

I’ve written a little about this subject before - the uncertainty that comes up for me when mothering a child who our society labels as “shy.”  People used to say this about me.  ”Oh, you’re just being shy.”  I think I got so used to the label that I ended up becoming that, even though my memories of elementary school were ones of being funny, outgoing and extroverted in class.  That was until about 3rd grade when Mrs. Ralston would punish me for laughing by making me clap the erasers out on the fire escape!  I learned how to keep quiet to please the teachers.  And eventually by the time high school rolled around and my family had moved to two different states in two years, well I guess you could say I became pretty darn “shy.”  Yes, I was quiet in class.  I had self-doubt.  But now as I mother a child who is innately reserved and cautious, I am seeing that as others label us as “shy,” I think that description limits the gifts we are here to share.

We live in a world that values accomplishment, extroverts, busy lives, and boisterous, easygoing personalities.  We don’t know what to do with quiet.  We fill up the silence.  So when we meet someone who is an observer, a listener, and more reserved…we label them as “shy” because we don’t know how to handle them.  Their quiet nature makes us feel uncomfortable.  And yet, what I’m learning is that people who seem more quiet and reserved up front have an inner peace about them that is comforting.  There is usually a lot going on inside their hearts and minds.  And if you take the time to let them warm up, you are often introduced to a gentle person who is a joy to be around and amazingly observant.  I really resonate with people who listen well.  Who take time to notice the world around them.  Who take everything in.  Who process and are curious and study and who ask questions and who think and feel from an internal, quiet place.  I think that’s what I did naturally as a kid, and people called me “shy.”  I think that’s what my son does, too.

So I’m learning as I observe my little 4-year-old that he is extremely reserved in new situations.  He studies the kids.  He watches the teachers.  He’s so sweet and kind.  He smiles.  He nods his head.  He sometimes bounces up and down when he’s really excited to let the people know he’s interested and having fun, even though he may not feel comfortable using his words yet.  He’s precious.  He’s a joy. And this is just how he is.  He’s communicating in his own way. And the teachers or other kids in art class or gymnastics may have no clue that this little dude has been talking since he was 9 months old, but isn’t that ok?  We need a balance of boisterous and quiet right? And I do not need to label his behavior as anything else.  Because when I do I take away the special gifts that make him…him.  He needs to take it all in.  And in his own time, he warms up and as he says, “gets more comfortable.” Why do we feel the need to label and judge his process?

I’m getting quite used to being the only mom that stays by her kid’s side in the class (at his request). And the teacher usually has the perfect solution.  She tells me, “Next time, you just push him through the door and go run and hide.  We know where to find you if we need you.”  And sometimes I sit there agreeing with the teacher.  Oh, well she must know right?  I mean, she works with kids all the time. Surely she knows how to handle the “shy” ones, too.  Maybe it is me?  Maybe I’m enabling him.  What is wrong with me!  What is wrong with him!  Why can’t he just go have fun and be like all the other kids in class?  Why can’t I go hang out with the other moms and drink my coffee while we peer in through the window?  WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!

I think calling him “shy” in the way our society uses that word is placing judgment on his natural way of seeing and being in the world. It says that being extroverted, doing what the teacher says and fitting in is the “right” way to be, and being quiet, not feeling comfortable with the teacher and not wanting your mommy to leave your side, is the “wrong” way to be.  Talk, comply, outgoing…good. Quiet, cautious, shy…bad.

So my practice these days as a mother is to TRUST that my sweet little boy is complete and whole and wonderful JUST AS HE IS.  To stop labeling.  To stop thinking something is wrong with us.  And to treat each new situation and each new person we meet with kindness and compassion. Sure, I may still be the only mom in class, walking along the side of the balance beam until my son gets more comfortable.  And it’s up to me to stay connected to my intuition – that place that guides me to mother from my heart.  The teachers may have had years of experience working with all types of kids, and I know I have a lot to learn from their expertise.  But in the end, we truly are enough – just as we are – and my heart knows the path that is best for me.  I know that I can nurture and support my son, but like a flower, I can not force him to bloom before he’s ready.

Let’s stop labeling ourselves, our children and the people we meet as right or wrong, good or bad, outgoing or shy…  Let’s let go of our judgments.  Let’s stop being so darn hard on ourselves!  Let’s embrace our differences!  Let’s let our own personalities shine, and not try to be something we think we should be, but rather become who we are in each new moment.

YOU and me (and our children) are completely beautiful and wonderful – just as WE are.

Your Personal Reflection:  

Become more aware of the labels you use to describe yourself, and your kids, and the world around you.  What would happen if you could let go of those labels, and let your true gifts shine, so that you can become who you are?

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Honoring the Energy of Spring

Posted on March 21, 2012 by in living

There really is something in the air. Do you feel it too?

I focused my attention on Inside Out through the month of February. Then we all got sick. And then last week the 80-degree weather blew in. Having the windows open, shaving my legs and breaking out the sandals was just the motivation I needed to start afresh. With my husband, Chris, coming down on a big project deadline, I have been putting a lot of my own creative work on hold to help the family get through June.

And then something happened on Sunday.  An energy shift if you will. With a few hours of help from the babysitter, Chris and I took some new spring photos in our backyard. It was spontaneous. It was quick. It was fun. And he helped me edit them into beautiful pictures for my spring website makeover. I also had a fabulous talk with my friend and graphic designer who is excited to continue helping me on my site and other future projects.  And a few interesting proposals and people have come into my life lately.  So needless to say I’ve been feeling excited about new possibilities starting to take shape.

Then, just yesterday I took the boys to the library and my toddler, Ashton, randomly grabbed a book called “Energy Makes Things Happen” and tossed it on the floor as he wobbled his way over to the puppets. I picked up the book and started reading about all the different ways things get energy. The book read, “Energy never disappears. It can move from one object – such as a baseball bat – to another – such as a ball. Energy can move from the sun to a carrot to a child to a rock. It can flow from light into a plant, from a plant into a fuel, from a fuel into the movement of a car going down the street – but energy never goes away.”

And it got me thinking, Where does my energy go?  If it never disappears, it has to go somewhere right?  I usually begin my day with tons of energy.  By mid-afternoon, my energy is low.  Then, it picks back up again.  Up and down, back and forth, full and depleted…all throughout the day.  And what gives me new energy?  What drains my energy?  If I’m not putting my energy into the creative work – I SO LOVE – then how will that creative energy get used?

The shift I feel as spring settles in, is one of energy.  I am reminded that doing my creative work FILLS ME UP.  It stirs up my senses and my fire and it’s how I connect with people.  It energizes me.

What we focus on grows.  Where we put our energy is where we see movement.  The sun warms us up and gives us heat and light  - its energy.  The sun’s energy helps things grow.  So as we honor our energy this spring, let’s become more aware of the movement we want to see in our lives.  Let’s remember that our inner light wants to shine.  It wants to touch people.  It wants to grow.  And the newness of spring is here to remind us of the possibilities that come when we direct our energy in a more intentional way.

There is something in the air.

A breath of fresh air.

Seeds that have been planted.

Seeds ready to bloom.

And a newfound sense of energy – that is ready to flow from me to you and from you to me – and back into the world.

Your Personal Reflection:

Where does your energy go?  Are you ready to redirect your energy and focus it more intently on the creative dreams ready to be born within you?  Today, honor your energy, and enjoy the things that fill you up.  And remember, it’s your energy that makes things happen.

Happy spring!

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Family Day of Fun

Posted on March 19, 2012 by in living

We are healthy and loving the spring weather.  The boys joined me for a small town parade on Saturday.  It’s a little tradition I’ve enjoyed for years, going to the awesome town where my college is for their annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.  I used to skip class back in college and join my friends for a day of fun.  Now, the boys sit on the curb with me as we watch the sweet old-timers play their horns, the local bars display their floats and the shriners do their thing.  My husband, Chris, snapped most of these photos and wrote about his day at the parade here.

My website will be getting a spring makeover this week!  And we’ll continue to soak up the sun and explore the outdoors because the spring flowers are absolutely incredible right now.

Your Personal Reflection:

What kind of exploring will you be enjoying?

 

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Almost There

Posted on March 12, 2012 by in growing

There are two signs that winter is still in the air:  1) it snowed last week and 2) the flu hit our home. The snow lasted the morning, but unfortunately the flu knocked out my family for days (fortunately, the youngest may have been spared), and I’m the last to catch it and recoup from it.  I’m on day 5 of lying around and doing what I can to get better.  Luckily, my babysitter took the boys out to the park because being stuck in the house with no energy with two boys whose energy never stops, well I’m sure you can guess I was starting to feel like a caged animal stuck with some very wild beasts!

I hear birds chirping.  I see through my window that the lilac bushes are blooming.  I’m grateful for my health that is sure to return very soon. Almost there.  New beginnings await.  Until then, I rest.  And I feel excited knowing that the sun is warming the earth and seeds are sprouting, and others are almost ready to be planted.

Your Personal Reflection:

What new seeds are sprouting in your life and what new beginnings are you ready to see emerge?

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Preparing for Spring

Posted on March 1, 2012 by in living

Despite the fact that I still have snowflakes here on the blog, (the spring look is on its way), signs of spring are showing up everywhere.  The weather is near 70 degrees today and while the boys and I were playing at the park I had to do a double take at all the flowers popping up!

Sparrow Magazine’s spring edition came out today (it’s SO lovely), and I’m excited to be one of the contributors.  If you are ready to make space for new beginnings this spring, check out my article, Spring Cleaning Your Mind & Heart. 

Your Personal Reflection:  

In what ways do you clear and cleanse in preparation for spring?

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Free Spirit Spotlight: Jamie Ridler

Posted on February 27, 2012 by in creating, living

Someone who knows how to Laugh Play Love out loud and with full authenticity is the lovely, creative Jamie Ridler. Many of you have probably seen her blog or listened to her podcast series, Creative Living with Jamie.  If not, get on over there for a huge dose of creative inspiration.  (I had the privilege of being interviewed by Jamie last year – you can listen to it here.)

Jamie was kind enough to stop by for a Free Spirit Spotlight interview and I’m so excited to share it with you today.

Jamie, tell us a little bit about yourself and your creative life.

As I write this, I look around my studio and see signs of my creative life everywhere: the vision cards I made to guide me through the year, my dreamboard right above my computer, a container filled with a rainbow of markers, an inspiration box full of ideas for writing, my bright green journal for a new project of creating a collaged page a day.  It’s a creativity love bomb in here!

Plus a lot of my creative life is channeled through my business, Jamie Ridler Studios.  Through one-on-one coaching, workshops, e-courses, online events and my podcast, I help women find the courage and confidence to awaken their creative spirits and become the star they are!

And to top that all off, whenever I can, wherever I can, I dance.

How did you get to a place where you have been able to embrace yourself as a creative being?

There really has been no other choice.  When I deny my creative spirit, I am miserable.  I remember a few weeks after I’d wrapped up my training in the Expressive Arts, I was feeling all grumpy and moody and wondering why.  My little sister looked at me and said, “Maybe because you’re not doing something creative every week?” Bam!  That was it.

I really believe our most important job while we’re here is to be who we are and being creative is part of that.

You host the wildly successful podcast series, Creative Living with Jamie.  How did this come about?  What have you learned about yourself throughout the last 2 years of doing these interviews?

Thank you so much for those kind words!  I just love the podcast and it has been a dream come true for me to hear how much people are getting out of the show.  I feel so blessed to connect with amazing guests and awesome listeners.  It just fills my heart!

The seeds of the podcast were planted years ago when I led my book club, The Next Chapter, through Gail McMeekin’s 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women.  As a part of the series, I thought it would be really cool if each week I could interview a highly creative woman.  I had no idea how to record, how to edit, how to have it play audios on the site or whether anyone would say yes to being interviewed! And from all those unknowns, came a wonderful series, my first product Your Creative Spark, great relationships with 12 creative stars and eventually the podcast!

One of the things I’ve learned is how strongly I value chatting with people at all different stages of their creative journey.  We’re all on the same road and each of our stories matters.

What’s your favorite art medium for self-expression?

I love so many mediums! My first love is dance. It has brought me home when I’ve been lost. It always reminds me of who I am and why I am here. It connects me to my spirit, my body, the Universe and whoever else is on the dance floor. It’s just in me.

Theatre has been my great teacher. I say all the time that everything I’ve needed to know, I learned from the theatre. Writing has been my constant companion – so much so that I often haven’t realized that I’m in relationship with it at all! And I love to paint. Though I’m still healing my art wounds around it, there’s something about the sensuality of painting that I find compelling. And, of course, I never leave the house without a camera. Ever.

What is a free spirit to you?

I love the phrase “free spirit.” Just thinking about it makes me breathe a little deeper, stretch a little farther, smile a little broader.

A free spirit is someone who is simply, totally, completely themselves and who values this so deeply that s/he honors and supports others who are, or want to be, doing the same.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Curiosity is my personal inspiration detector! I get curious about everything, from what’s on the news to what’s happening up the street. My spirit gets caught by houses and design and fashion and cooking and symbols and stories and color and travel and events and trees and the seasons. I’m inspired by the search for meaning in all that’s around us. The arts stir my creative fire, and what’s in our hearts and on our minds is infinitely inspiring. The other day I watched a documentary on a man with a brood of wild turkeys that had imprinted on him; I’m still thinking about it! Inspiration is everywhere.

How do you manage to find time and make space for your creative projects?

Without doubt finding time for creativity is the number one challenge I hear from my clients, my guests and my listeners. That was the motivation behind creating the Sparkles e-course.  For 31 days, you receive 31 prompts designed to bring your creativity to life in less than 5 minutes a day.  It really can be that simple.

In our daily lives, the most crucial step is to decide (I mean, really decide) that it’s important (like, non-negotiable important).  Just like every day I brush my teeth, every day I take a little time for my creative projects.  It might just be crocheting a row or capturing some phrases in a journal or listening to a song.  When I worked a day job, my projects were my lunch dates.

Once you’ve decided it is important, start making that clear to others as well.  I’ll say “Okay, I’m going to go spend some journal time.  See you in half an hour.”  Once you start treating your creative projects simply as something you do, life will begin to adjust, like a bubbling stream running around the rocks.

What would you say to those who want to live a creative life and find their artist within, but don’t know where to begin?

Find the most un-intimidating way in.  Play.  I started painting when my 9-year-old niece came over. We hit the art store and bought some little kid paint and some little kid paper and dove in.  Using children’s supplies helped me sneak past my fear and judgement and allowed me to just play and remember how much there is to enjoy – regardless of the results!

Create safety for yourself.  You don’t have to share anything with anybody.  Dance in the bathroom. Write poetry in a locked diary.  Make some videos and have a movie night just for you.  Let yourself feel your way in to your creative life, without the pressure of an audience. And making it safe means giving your own inner critic the night off too.  When s/he shows up with her/his familiar stream of negativity, remember for tonight, you’re just playing.  There’s no way to get it wrong.

I’ve also created a free guided meditation that will help.  It’s a gentle yet powerful way to reunite you with your creative spirit.  Come by Jamie Ridler Studios, sign up for my newsletter and you’ll be able to download it right away – as well as some journal pages to help you hold onto what you discover!

What new projects are you working on and where can we learn more about you?

There are always new projects!  I’m always dreaming up something.  I love that about creative life!

I host a monthly dreamboard event online under each full moon.  I’m really excited about offering a series of meditations that help connect to the power and energy of each moon.

I’ve also been having a wonderful time developing some core creative practices (writing morning pages, meditation and moving) and leading check-ins on both my Facebook page and Twitter.  I hope you and your readers will join us!

You can always find me at:

My website, Facebook, Twitter and my Podcast.

*******

Thank you, Jamie, for sharing a piece of your journey with us and for reminding us the value of making time and space for creativity.  You are such a joy and your ability to laugh, play and love the life you are living is an inspiration.

Your Personal Reflection:  

What creative play will you make time and space for today?

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The Day is Now (& winners announced!)

Posted on February 26, 2012 by in being, living

Thanks to all of you mothers who shared your support and wisdom with me on my last post! Sometimes feeling vulnerable is a scary place to be, and yet there is so much comfort in connecting with other women brave enough to speak their truth.

Inside Out ended on Friday and it was another amazing experience!  I’m now enjoying a chill weekend with the boys and with no set plans.  Yesterday we stayed in jammies and I let them lead almost every moment of our day.  It was pretty fascinating.  I notice my tendency to want to avoid playing trains (yet again) or my need to feel productive by folding clothes or making meals.  So I let those feelings come up but really tried not to act on them.  After pancake breakfast we had a puppet show, we played in the closet and we set up trains.  My 4-year-old wanted me to be the conductor and told me to “talk like a man.”  I crawled around on the floor.  I didn’t try cleaning or straightening up along the way. And I let the kids mess up every room in the house for the entire day.

It was fun.  It was surprisingly restoring.  At the end of the day as I was getting dinner together Kestan said, with an endearing, beaming smile, “Mom, tell me a story.”  And my eyes filled with tears.  In that moment I looked at him and saw the man that he will one day become.  I know he won’t always say these words to me.  And although I was feeling tired, I stopped, sat down beside him and we made up a story together (a favorite activity of ours – but all too often I can say, “Oh honey, not now”).  Not this time.

One of our family rituals is to talk about our days at dinnertime.  When we started to eat Kestan said, “Mom, tell me about your day.”  So I shared parts and pieces of my favorite moments.  Then, it was my turn to ask him. “Kestan, tell me about your day.”  And with confidence and a matter-of-fact attitude, he replied, “Mom, my day is now.”

Like I’ve said before, our kids know things.

And when we slow down enough to listen, they teach us how to live.  Laugh Play Love is really what it’s all about.

The winners of the three spots in my new Mothering with heART online community are:

Mandy, Rae and Joy!

And a print of my heart painting goes to:

Erin!

Congratulations to you all!  Please email me for the details!  livefreely@mac.com

(Winners were picked from a random drawing.)
Your Personal Reflection:  

Slow down a little today and let your kids or the wind lead the way.

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The Courage to Mother with Your Heart

Posted on February 16, 2012 by in living, mothering

Well it’s no surprise that as I focus my intentions to Laugh Play Love more this month, something would happen that would push the boundaries of my own heart.  You see, I’ve had a couple of profound experiences over this past week that have changed my perspective on life.

Last week I took my 4-year-old to my neighbors house for an art class.  Let me back up and say, my son is extremely reserved in new situations.  He is the most talkative kid I know, but when he’s around other adults or big groups, well no one would ever know he even talks.  (I remember being this way when I was young, too.)  I left Kestan at art class for the first time last week.  He was there with two other friends and the teacher, who is our friend and neighbor.  But this week was different.  Before we left the house Kestan said, “Mom, last week you left me at art class before I was comfortable.”  I remember giving him a big hug goodbye that day and made sure he felt safe, but I was so grateful that he could share his feelings with me.  I apologized and told him that I’ll make sure he’s “comfortable” before I leave this time.

So, we walked over to my neighbor’s house for class.  Kestan picked out the chair he wanted to sit in. He grabbed my arm.  He wanted me to sit right next to him.  I also had my 15-month-old in my arms. The other girls had started painting. Kestan was quiet.  Smiling, but gripping me.  I told him I wasn’t going to leave.  Our neighbor – the teacher – was very good with him.  She was trying to get him engaged.  She was very kind and patient.

After he seemingly relaxed and started to paint, I tried to slowly slip away.  I wasn’t leaving.  I just wanted to back off a little so he could get “comfortable” with his friends.  At that point I told Kestan I was going to take his brother home for nap time and that I’d be back really soon.  He started to cry and the teacher tried to console him, putting Kestan on her lap and into her arms.

Well, that didn’t go so well.  Kestan felt as though she was keeping him from me, and he lost it.  I mean really lost it.  He screamed and cried and even kicked off his shoe. I’ve never seen him like that. The teacher let go and he came running to my arms.

Well, crap, as any mama knows – that just feels horrible!  We spend years building trust with our little ones, and I told him I wouldn’t leave until he was “comfortable” and then this happens.  I consoled him.  We hugged and kissed.  And once he was feeling more relaxed and safe again, brother and I stayed, right by his side, while Kestan finished his project.

Maybe this seems pretty minor to you.  But I have to tell you, this experience brought in a flood of emotions for me the rest of that day.  I had a pit in my stomach.  And when I sat with those feelings here’s what I realized.  Those old negative thoughts about not fitting in came up again.  Thoughts like Have I kept my son too sheltered?  What will other parents think?  Why is my kid the only one who seems shy? Will I ever be able to leave him?  Have I ruined his chances for socializing and having friends? Why don’t we just fit in?

I should mention here that I’ve tried to help Kestan get comfortable in these kinds of situations for years now.  I am usually one of the only moms sitting on the floor with him at story time.  Or dragging him along with me to toddler yoga, or encouraging him to talk to his friends at playgroups.  And what I’ve seen over the years is that he is getting more comfortable, little by little.  In his own time.  Not my time.  Not the time the experts or the books or the preschool teachers tell us.  But his time.  Because his natural temperament is one of an observer.  Kestan needs space and time to observe his surroundings.  And when he’s ready, he participates.  He smiles. He has fun.  He gains confidence.  He shines.  When he’s ready.

So theses feelings of not fitting in reminded me that I’ve been trying to gently push Kestan to get involved in these activities because I was feeling pressure from the outside world.  Pressure from friends who ask “Is Kestan in preschool yet?”  Or the moms who list off all the activities their children are signed up for.  Or the preschool enrollment dates that make you think If you don’t sign your child up for preschool RIGHT NOW he’ll be behind for the rest of his life! And of course, I know that none of these outside influences can put pressure on me without me letting them.

After this incident at art class, Kestan and I talked about what had happened.  And my sweet, wise little 4-year-old simply said, “I’m just not ready, mom.”

And that’s enough for me.

This reminded me of the time when I was preparing Kestan to wean from nursing.  We was only nursing about once a day at that point and I was getting him prepared for his little brother’s arrival.  I explained that there would be a new baby who would need mommy’s milk all the time, like Kestan once did when he was little.  He was excited for his new baby brother.  He told me brother and he could “share” mommy’s milk.  And even though I was ready for Kestan to wean, he said, “I’m still little mommy.”  And we nursed until the day we brought baby brother home and Kestan confidently said, “I’m done.”  And that was that.

Our kids are wise little creatures.

They know things.

And it’s our jobs as their parents to be mindful.  To listen. To observe.  To let them express their feelings.  And to make sure they feel “comfortable” and safe in this world.

As I learn more on this path of motherhood, I can now say I am 100% committed to listening to my heart.  When something doesn’t  feel right, I must listen to that.  Because the more courage I find to follow my intuition in all aspects of my life, the easier it becomes to make decisions that are LOVE-based, and not ones that are coming from fear.

The fear of not fitting in could persuade me to get my kids involved in too many activities.  Or leave them screaming at the door.  Or sign them up too early for preschool.  Or do a million other things that it seems the world says we mothers should do.

I’m making a conscious choice to mother with my heart.

And to let my beautiful sweet boys lead the way.

Love to all you mamas,

Shannon

GIVE-AWAY:  Because I’m truly passionate about bringing mothers together, I’m giving away 3 memberships to my private A Free Spirit Life online community.  (This community space is usually exclusive to Inside Out e-course participants.)  The winners will receive a year’s access to this community space.  We have a new Mothering with heART group where moms can share their celebrations and hardships, and support each other on this journey of motherhood.  In addition, over the next year I will be offering free videos & audio podcasts, and other inspiration on creativity, mindful living and mothering with heart, for members of this private community space.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ALREADY MEMBERS: Make sure you enter for this giveaway, too.  I have a special Free Spirit art prize for one lucky winner.

TO ENTER: Simply leave a comment to the question below.  If you want double points, send out a tweet or join my new Mothering with heART Facebook page. Thanks for sharing.  I’m excited to connect with you!  Leave your comments by Thursday, February 23rd.  I’ll announce the winners Friday, February 24th.

Your Personal Reflection: What does “mothering with your heart” mean to you?

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