Welcome to day six of our peaceful postpartum series.
I love this one.
Today we're taking a few minutes to connect with gratitude,
Even in the midst of the unpredictable,
Messy,
And usually pretty overwhelming experience of new parenthood.
In these moments of reflection,
We'll find small sparks of appreciation that ignite the heart,
Bringing peace and perspective to our day,
No matter how it turns out.
Let's begin.
Find a comfy position,
Whether you're sitting up or lying down.
Take a deep breath in,
Allowing your body to expand with fresh air.
And as you exhale,
Gently release any tension you're holding,
Letting it simply melt away.
If you haven't already,
Go ahead and close your eyes.
We'll take a few more deep,
Juicy breaths here on your own time.
Let your breathing settle into a natural rhythm.
There's no need to force anything,
Just breathe in,
Breathe out,
And let yourself be fully in this moment,
Exactly as you are.
Sometimes I set a simple intention to really get me present.
Something like,
I am here.
I welcome everything that is exactly as it is.
Take a moment to notice your breath moving in and out,
Each breath anchoring you to the present.
You may feel the coolness of the inhale,
The warmth of the exhale.
Notice how the breath is always here,
A steady presence,
Even when things are chaotic.
With each breath,
Let your shoulders soften just a little,
Allow your jaw to relax,
And your mind settle just a little bit more.
You're allowed to pause here,
To simply be.
Enjoy it.
Now,
Let's begin to invite a sense of gratitude into this space.
Think of one small moment from your day that brought a hint of joy,
Calm,
Or connection.
It might be something as simple as your baby's little smile,
Or pretend it's not gas,
The warmth of sunlight shining through your window,
Or even just that first sip of coffee you had this morning.
Hold this small memory gently in your mind.
Picture it clearly,
Noticing any details,
Even if they seem ordinary.
As you breathe,
Let your heart warm with the gratitude for this moment,
For its simplicity and sweetness.
Now,
Consider a part of your day,
Either today or yesterday,
Depending on when you're listening to this,
That felt challenging.
It could be a moment of exhaustion,
A mess to clean up,
Or a time when things felt just completely out of control.
As you think of this moment,
Allow yourself to observe it without judging it.
Simply noticing what happened and how it felt.
See if there's one small aspect within this challenge that you can hold with gratitude.
It might be the chance to learn patience,
The strength you discovered in yourself,
Or even just the moment to breathe afterward.
Allow yourself to soften around this memory,
Holding both its difficulty and any small gift it may have offered.
As you breathe,
Notice if this feeling of gratitude begins to expand in your heart and through your body.
Recognize that even amidst the noise and messiness of life,
These moments of appreciation can be like tiny anchors,
Helping you feel more grounded and present.
With each inhale,
Let yourself feel the warmth of gratitude filling you,
And with each exhale,
Release any lingering tension or worry.
Imagine this gratitude as a quiet,
Steady strength,
Something that's always within reach,
No matter what your day brings.
Take one final deep breath in,
Filling yourself with a sense of calm and appreciation.
Exhale slowly,
Releasing any remaining tension.
When you're ready,
Bring your awareness back to the room,
Feeling your fingers and toes again,
And opening your eyes if they were closed.
Parenting is hard,
But remember,
Even in the chaos,
There's always small moments to appreciate.
These little sparks of gratitude can help carry you through,
One breath at a time.
You're doing great.
Thanks for listening.
