Soul Selfie — Blair Shackle

Sometimes you have to get slow to grow

Dang it you, guys. I have been beyond silent on this blog for far too long! I’m not going to stay in a guilty state of heart for too long, but man, I have missed my time to write and express.

Between loving up on an incredible 3-year old (!!), helping a handful of amazing clients expand their businesses (I love helping people make the world a happier and more healed place), moving and renovating a new home in an incredible neighborhood that has both a forest in our backyard and a lake a few blocks away (pinch me!), and just being well, a human with cooking, laundry, school drop-off, making time for self care, oh just being in a marriage, and the rest…it has been a trip! A great one, though.

But here I am! Present! Accounted for! I showed up!

Sometimes that’s all you can do.

I don’t have anything incredibly profound to say, but I am wanting to reconnect, recharge, and rediscover the magic of this blog and my business in a bigger way.

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve shifted focus of this blog to hone in on…

Helping wellness entrepreneurs build heart-based businesses

Mindful motherhood

Showcasing my clients

Living holistically

I am excited to get back to blogging and sharing my heart. Maybe you too have been getting that not-so-subtle tap on the shoulder to share who you are with the world. This is your reminder to go forth and do so in the way that calls to you. For me it is writing, making pretty graphics with inspiring words; it is also helping others find their worth and achieve success both personally and professionally!

I have been going through transition after transition and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. While I find my self road weary sometimes, the feeling passes. But I also know that I needed to slow down to really grow. Sometimes getting slow is the best for true growth. During these times I’ve been focusing on recharging myself so I could be at this point with a readiness and excitement to expand and explore new territory with joy.

This doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily be sharing some profound 800 word article every day, but it does mean I will be showing up…more often and with more intention to improve myself and hopefully others while I’m at it. That is my goal…to bring more joy and confidence to those I work with, those who are running small businesses, mothers who need a lift, and to friends who need a smile.

Today is just that. Maybe you need a nudge to get unstuck. Do one thing that will further you toward your goal. Ask for the help that you need because you know in your heart that there are people out there that can help you. Share a funny story from your life because lord knows we all could use like 10,000 laughs per day or hour. Make a phone call to someone who could use your help. It’s just one thing.

This is my thing today.

Know that you are loved and divinely cared for in all ways.

With ease and balance and a big ol’ hug,

Sharing what hurts: Do I want another child?

What’s one thing today you can let go of?

I struggle daily with control over an imaginary checklist of “How things should be” in nearly every aspect of my life — parenting, how I look, what I eat, my relationship, my work, etc. It’s emotionally draining and it doesn’t serve me or my family. Yet, it lingers…

Over the years, my need for control has gotten better, but certain triggers can really trip me up and I get so angry because I feel the need for control breathing down my neck. I hate it.

Today I want to focus on one control — being a parent. As many of you I’m sure know, being a parent doesn’t help someone with a need for control because parenting is really all about letting go of expectations and allowing life to unfold naturally…in whatever form that may take shape.

This past week has been full of huge triggers for some reason and thoughts of having another child have come up (even though we are not planning on having another anytime in the near future) and it’s been scary. I’m not ready. Will I ever be? Do I want to have another child? I don’t know…it’s so frustrating because my feelings on this change on a daily basis and sometimes hourly.

I’ve always struggled with wanting to control everything and my biggest lesson in the fact that I will never have true control came with the birth of River. Putting myself back in those early postpartum days really freaks me out at a core level. Getting sleep (my biggest trigger in my postpartum journey), juggling two kids, a relationship, a career, keeping a house clean and food on the table, finding time to shower, practice self-care (yoga keeps me sane, I swear), and have any sort of friendships — how is it all possible? I see others doing it, but I just don’t know if I can. And how do I relinquish control of those areas of my life in order to find peace and calm? I’ve never been able to really know the answer to that. Does anyone??

I’ve been to therapists, energy practitioners, acupuncturists, reiki masters, and more and while I do feel myself growing stronger, I sometimes still slip into darkness. In my heart, I know I am human and this is totally to be expected, but it still freaks me out. I hope by sharing some of my fears, I can release them even further.

You know what, having a brain and not just a heart is draining sometimes! When the brain and heart conflict it is not a comfortable place to be. My heart says “Yes, another baby” and my brain says, “Don’t you remember what happened the last two times you were pregnant?!?”

I feel so vulnerable right now and my emotions are super sensitive. So today, I just choose to let go of one thing…making a decision. I don’t need to make a decision today. I don’t need to make one tomorrow, or the next. Today I allow the feelings to be there, to say thank you for bringing this healing that is needed to attention, and then to let it go to the best of my ability.

Thanks for letting me speak a scary truth that I’ve been surfing lately. It feels good to get it off my chest. Maybe you’ll share a deep truth with yourself or a loved one today too?

Love and ease, always.

Wild + Untamed Motherhood

path of motherhood

Whatever road you happen to be traveling on today…you’ve got this, mama.

Your path is perfect.

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I’ll be sharing a few more mama wisdom posts this week in honor of Mother’s Day. Please share with a mama or two who you love. We’re all in this together 🙂