Mindfulness Helps You To Enjoy Motherhood and Reduce Postpartum Depression
Wouldn't it be amazing if you could begin each day by yourself, enjoying a morning coffee while watching the beach or quietly practicing meditation in your garden? Or, perhaps you find it ideal to journal while curled up in bed with tea in hand?
Your mornings probably don't begin exactly like that if you're a mother. Chaos has taken the place of quiet, tiredness has replaced tranquility, and punctuality has been replaced with hurrying. These chaotic moments make you feel lost and will eventually pile up to blow up in your face one day, by becoming what we mothers usually call postpartum depression.
Even though it might not be possible to spend some time by yourself, you can incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine and work on the skill of being present. This helps us to avoid or reduce any signs of depression or anxiety.
You can set aside this time to observe your life as well as your children, despite how overwhelmed you are or how long your to-do list is. Being a mindful parent and practicing being in the present helps you become more acquainted and in sync with motherhood.
Make sure to observe your child's first morning expression, the way they blink their eyes and look around after waking up, how they call for you and smile when they see their favorite breakfast ready for them. Take a moment to think about how magical it is for you to be able to create this life, this adorable human being who came out of you. See the trust in their eyes as they run to give you a hug or a kiss. As you take them into your arms, take notice of how your child's weight and body feel in your arms.
What characteristics of your child are you noticing as you practice this idea of being in the present? Do their facial expressions change when they are paying attention to something? When you read books together, do their eyes narrow as they skim the pages? Do they have a different voice when excited?
We all need these friendly reminders to dwell in the present moment. In trying circumstances, pause and check yourself: "Am I here?" "Am I living in this current moment?" There may be loads of dishes and incomplete projects at work, but when you are truly living your life, you view things with a deep level of clarity and awareness.
This week, we start taking the chance to find tranquility each morning and develop a routine of turning to the present moment and seeing what is in front of you... in all of its glory and despite its flaws. Your mind may wander, and you may forget to perform this exercise, but that is precisely why this is referred to as practice.
Mindfulness can help you connect to the present moment at any time of day and provides a new opportunity to spend precious, undistracted experiences with your children and life. These everyday moments are what make up our lives so we should cherish them together.
Allow yourself fifteen minutes to enjoy the moment of witnessing the magic that is your life.
Look for a place to spend time or sit quietly where you can relax. Pause a second to relax, then take three or four deep breaths.
Take a deep breath and close your eyes once you're comfortable. Give yourself time to enjoy the peace. Try to appreciate how good it is to be alone. Honor the beauty of your life by giving yourself the space you need away from the day-to-day.
Now, think back to certain memories. Bring yourself back to the first time you saw your child face-to-face. Let yourself feel that sense of awe again. Do you recall thinking, "Is this truly real?"
Think back to the first time your child called you "Mama." What were you doing? What time of year was it? How did that make you feel? Allow yourself to bask in how amazing that made you feel. These memories will be with you for the rest of your life.
As you settle into your meditation, consider the magic and beauty of your life. Breathe in the magnificence of all these precious memories, and hold that breath for an extra time to relish them. With each time you exhale, let these precious moments soothe your system and calm you. Repeat, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
Whenever you feel lost and think that you are on the verge of depression, don't hesitate to come back to this meditation. It may be more helpful to practice incorporating this into your daily routine. Go back to those joyous, genuine memories of motherhood and be receptive to the simple, everyday moments of beauty around you. Magic is everywhere.
