Since I was young, I’ve had two responses to adversity: a) “This can’t be happening to me” or b) “This is it for me.”
“This can’t be happening to me” was a way to dissociate - my subconscious would tell me “this kind of thing” only happens to “other people.”
“This is it for me” was the story my brain would tell me when I got into catastrophizing mode - I would make whatever challenge I was facing in the moment mean something way bigger / worse was surely on the way.
Since getting into mindfulness practices, I’ve been able to take a step back (on a good day) and see / hear these stories for what they are - coping mechanisms I developed many moons ago, when they did serve me in a way: they kept me safe.
But as I watched these little stories run around in my mind, especially as I got further into my motherhood journey (especially since becoming a mother of two), I saw them for what they are now: the beginning point of my brain’s spiral out of the present and into a dark place where I didn’t actually want to be.
So I began to rewrite the stories. If these are just things I tell myself when the going gets tough, what other story could I tell myself? What story might serve me, my mental health, and my family better?
How about, “This is for now, it’s not forever,” or, “I can do hard things”? When I told myself these stories, It started to change my whole mindset, the way I responded to my kids, my husband, everything.
I’m nowhere near perfect on this, it’s a practice for sure. But I love thinking about these things and how I can support myself to stay in this headspace. And I’d love to walk alongside you, while you do it, too, mama.
This is why I have the Rewriting the Story resources in our Collective community. Because if we can rewrite the stories we tell ourselves that don’t serve us anymore and turn them into powerful tools, we can completely change the dynamic of our families - because mamas take the lead.
If you’re not already a member of the Radiant Soul Mamas Collective and want access to tools to walk you through this process and a community of moms doing the same, join us today!