Hey GIRL (that’s you, our Grace In the Race Ladies):
Happy New Year!
Okay, we know what you’re thinking… It’s September 12th, not January 1st.
The reality is that moms function on the school calendar, not the traditional calendar and so the new year is upon us!
Some of you have been back into the swing of things for nearly a month already while others, Amanda and I included, are just four days in.
Regardless, it’s time we set some resolutions. And for those who read that and thought “I don’t make resolutions,” I offer the first of seven fundamental shifts that will resolve to get you through this new year with grace…
Resolution #1:
I make no excuses! … Yikes, Rachel, you’re really going to lead with that? It seems a bit harsh…
Okay, I admit, there’s some tough love with this one. But how many people make true progress in life taking a path littered in excuses? Zero, that’s how many.
Here’s a small shift we can implement to stop making excuses: when you find yourself reaching for a “but” instead reach for an “and.” Here’s how it works…
Maybe you recognize that you’re always rushing in the morning and you know you should wake up earlier. You might think “but, I’m not a morning person.”
Or you complain about losing weight and you know you should exercise. You might think “but, I’m too tired to exercise.”
You use the “but” to shut down any hope of progress. “Buts” like to partner with a declaration or statement of purpose – “I’m not that kind of person.” However, I’d challenge you to ask yourself whether that declaration is serving you.
Shift Your Thinking
Instead, try “and”… I am always rushing in the morning, AND the benefit of giving myself just a little more time by waking up earlier will bring me the peace of mind I need to get my entire family off to a better start!… I mean, chances are you’re not a morning person because you currently set yourself up for a stressful morning EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Stop doing that to yourself, Mama – you deserve better! Being “not a morning person” is not serving you!
Or, try it using the second example, I know I should start exercising AND it’s likely that moving my body even just 30 minutes a day will give me more energy! Again, being “too tired” is not serving you!
One of my favorite quotes is “If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”
If you’re finding excuses for the things that should be important, like your sanity in the mornings or your physical wellness, well, first of all, know you’re not alone. Moms often sacrifice their own health and peace of mind for the good of the order. However, it’s time to stop making excuses. No buts about it!
Excuses never make you feel better about yourself, they only lead to self-sabotage; and when you’re a mom, that’s good for NO ONE… I told you there would be tough love. Sorry, not sorry… just remember it’s LOVE!
Grace In All Things
The other six “resolutions” are featured below in “Grace in all things…” because GRACE is the key to keeping resolutions – even Resolution #1. Grace allows us to pause, regroup, and carry on. Grace reminds us that life is a journey, not a destination AND we can only take it one day at a time.
If these resolutions don’t serve you, write some of your own and then approach them with determination and grace! Resolve to be the best you that you can be so you can give your family the best new year possible. Do it because they deserve it, and because, darn it, you do too!
Upcoming Events
Be sure to check out the announcements below, we have some exciting events coming up this month. Next Saturday and Sunday, September 19th & 20th, we’ll be speaking at the Pandemic Parenting Summit. Then, on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7 pm, we’ll welcome our next guest in the MotherHood Speaker Series: Renee Samuels of Samwell Solutions; author of A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Children in Learning at Home. Get the details below and mark your calendar!
Thank you ALL for being here today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and may it kick-off an extraordinary week!
Love & Grace,
Rachel (& Amanda)
Co-founders of Grace in the Race, LLC
Labor (of Love) Day