Work in Progress: How to manage my 24 hours

One of my spiritual teachers, Dr. Dana Dennard, used to always say, "Everyone has the same 24 hours, what are you doing with yours?" Well, I haven't quite mastered utilizing my time at an optimal level. I marvel at some folks who seem to be experts on how to make every minute purposeful and who can stretch out a day that for me, seems to just fly by. I also reflect on my resilient ancestors, who weren't given a choice as to how they could spend their hours. In the midst of great suffering, they were able to toil tirelessly; and the fruits of their labor didn't give them freedom, or even opportunity. As a mother, trying to juggle all the responsibilities of life and achieve my life goals, I look to them as inspiration to keep me going. I want to honor them, myself, and my children by appreciating the time that I have and using it wisely.With the personal freedom to make the most of my time and be a visionary leader in life, I know that managing my time is key to my success.

There are a few personal challenges that I must overcome. First, I have never been an orderly and organized person. Second, I have never been one for strict routines. Three, I have a love affair with sleep. I have always been one to get a nap, or two in throughout the day. Everyone who knows me, knows how I like to sleep. But, that has actually changed since I've become a mother. I want to be able to be with my kids during the day and then stay up working when they go to sleep at night. But, by the time I get everything done and put the babies to bed, I am tired and just want to go to sleep too. Especially, because I know that I don't get much sleep anyway, with my breast-feeding son.

Although I want to be more on a schedule with my babies, I am trying to figure out how to get time in for myself, mostly. During the day creates the most challenge with juggling the activities of both babies. I need to spend more time writing, building my business, my personal and spiritual discipline, and maintaining myself healthwise. I wake up wanting to get so many things accomplished but, by the time I complete my motherly duties and deal with all the unexpected happenings of the day, the time has flown by!

This is something that I think about all the time. The next step is to work with my life and empowerment coach, Oronde Yero (http://www.ascensiontime.com/), on developing a "Day A and Day B." This is a great organization tool, coined by him, and I am very excited about it. I have already mapped out my life goals and the habits I need to develop to make sure I am creating a life that supports and nurtures those goals. The key is to find the balance between motherhood, work, spiritual discipline, and personal care. My schedule has to allow time to address all of these areas, keep them balanced and interconnected, and I have to be disciplined in my implementation. Day A will be my main schedule and Day B will be the schedule I employ if something unexpected arises which, with 2 kids, is inevitable.

I am excited to develop my day and to see how it helps me to become more conscious and purposeful with my time. I hope to also build enough energy and maintain my own health better. That way, I can decrease the number of hours I need to sleep. I already have this urge to stay awake but, my body says otherwise, most times.

So just as my spiritual teacher asks of his students, I will pose the question to you. "Everyone has the same 24 hours, what are you doing with yours?" If you don't think that you are maximizing your time to reach your life goals or to achieve personal fulfillment, how can you organize your life to support these matters? If you have any suggestions you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you. Either way, I think this is an important point of reflection for everyone, as we all work to create our very best lives.

For more information on how you can best organize your day and your life, visit: http://www.ascensiontime.com/ or http://www.ascensionblog.com/




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Mommy's Discipline: Creating a mommy mantra

"From this practice (of using Om), Awareness turns inward and all obstacles are overcome," Yoga Sutras, verse 1:29 

I am a stay-at-home mother. And while I made a conscious decision to devote my time to my babies, it is not without its challenges. For me, it is most rewarding but, anytime you get into a routine, whether it be at work or at home, it is easy for your daily activities to become monotonous and even draining. I have also had to adjust to caring for both of my babies simultaneously, which often times, can raise my stress levels. It is very important for me to be present with my children; to feel alive, and joyful with them. In the midst of diaper changes, spit-up, bath times, breast-feedings, playtime, cooking, soothing cries, and every other motherly duty (not to mention just staying awake), it can become difficult to stay grounded in who you are as a mother. I know sometimes I feel like I am just a milk dispenser! In an effort to continue on the path of enlightenement, I decided to create "mommy mantras" that would help me to stay balanced and remind me of my purpose.

A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase that is considered capable of  "creating transformation" (thank you, Wikipedia). Actually, Om or "AUM" is considered the most chanted mantra, particularly in yoga traditions. Om has been called the "sound of the universe" and by chanting it, practitioners believe that they are tapping into the divine energy that is the universe, and therefore, a higher level of consciousness. It is also a chant that restores peace, balance, and overall oneness. I figured if I applied these same principles, by creating my own "mommy mantra", I could transform the moment and my experiences all together.

One of the mantras I use most often is "do everything with love." This is a daily reminder to me that love is omnipresent and it exists in what I percieve to be the hard times or in undesirable tasks. It also helps me to put love into action. By saying these words, I can instantly shift my perception and feel at ease in a moment of difficulty or stress. Instead of approaching a task in a negative space, I can come from a place a love, and make the experience more enjoyable.

So, for me, doing something like cooking has shifted from something I have to do or dread, to an activity I love to engage in. I was never much of a cook, but, it is a mission of mine now to make it a pleasurable experience. When you love to do something you want to give it your very best. Now, I am constantly learning about the nutrients in foods, how to prepare it, and I am always trying delicious new recipes. And we all know that food tastes better when it is prepared with love. Many things that I used to "just do," have become moments for creativity, purpose, and fun. The best thing is that my babies can feel the difference too.Tapping into a place of love, makes me feel better, and it greatly influences my relationship with them.

Now, this isn't to say that this is an easy feat. There are many moments where my mantras go out of the window! And it is okay to be honest with where you are in the moment too. But, having the mantras provides a reference point that I can always go back to and realign myself with (even when I take a detour first). I am aware of how everything changes once I come from that place of love and I am aware of how things are when I don't. This is something that does take constant effort and focus. With discipline and conviction, I know that using tools like these can evolve from mere practice to a state of being.

There are many ways to utilize your mantra. You can say it to yourself, write it somewhere that you visit often, or meditate/pray on it. I also share them with my babies. The more ways you use them, the quicker they will be integrated into your daily life.

This mantra works for me but, the objective is to find that sound, word, or phrase that shifts something inside of you and realigns you with the greater good. Personalize it to meet your specific needs or goals. Reflect on areas of your life that may be stressful and think about how you can transform those aspects into more peaceful times. And then, make the committment to use it daily. The only criteria I would suggest is to make it something that is simple to remember and make sure that it is affirming/positive.

If you already have a mantra or once you create one, I'd love to hear from you. Tell me your mantra and how it helps to transform the moment for you! You can share openly in the comment section or email me at divinemother128@gmail.com.

Mommy's Minute: Taking time for self-discovery

Motherhood is not only a time for taking care of your children, it can be a time for self-discovery. In the midst of nursing, bottle-feeding, changing diapers, and nurturing your baby; you can carve out a little time to center yourself, reflect on who you are, and who you want to become.

40 Days and 40 Nights: Taking Time Out for Self-Discovery by Ilene Segalove, is a guided journal filled with thought provoking questions and activities, that allow you to explore the depths of who you are. The author was advised in 1996 by a rabbi to “take 40 days and 40 nights to go into the desert of [your] heart and soul.” Out of her experience, she created a guided journal that is a “metaphor for personal transformation; from the restrictions and limitations for your current self-definition, to the expansive possibilities of who you want to be.”

In the beginning, you create an intention and make a commitment to write in your journal everyday for 40 days. It may seem impossible in the middle of all your responsibilites, but you can tailor the process to meet your personal needs. It also helps you to dedicate a manageable time to yourself; something that all mothers need.

So take some time, put your pen to paper, and embark on a magical journey into the unknown. Forty days of self-discovery may just surprise you.

Ilene Segalove is the co-author of the best selling List Yourself journal series. She is also author of Unwritten Letters and The Write Mood.

This book can be previewed and purchased at the Om Mamma store:
http://astore.amazon.com/wwwommammasbl-20/detail/0740779958

Motherhood: A pathway to my self-awakening

“Bringing my babies into this world and loving them, has given me the wings to fly to my highest potential.”

Motherhood is indeed a sacred journey. Looking into my babies' eyes for the first time, were the most significant and life changing experiences I have had thus far. Here were these two little souls that had the power to reshape my entire existence. I was entrusted with the task of guiding their lives and I knew that the only way to honor them for choosing me to be their Mother, was to become a living example of greatness for them. In what seemed like a matter of moments and on two seperate occasions, my daughter and son became the absolute center of my universe. From the time they were born to present, everything I do is an extension of my greatest and most fulfilling role as their Mother.

As a new mother, there is a transition from taking care of self to being fully responsible for another young life. In adjusting to this new reality, it is easy to forget that you have dreams and aspirations that must live on as well. In my experience, giving birth to my babies, ignited a fire that had always been inside of me. I was awakened and felt alive in a whole new way. I had been on a conscious spiritual path for years and it all culminated to bring me to this place of surrender. I was ready to be my highest self and teach my babies how to become the same. I knew it would be the most challenging, seemingly impossible but, beautiful struggle of my life; the hardest thing that I would ever have to do.

I realized that I had to finally live my life authentically, as I had always envisioned. I had been a student of yoga, meditation, health, and wellness for several years. I came to adulthood in a community that was primarily focused on African culture and history, politics that affect Black people worldwide, and progressive community-building. Through these experiences and in my process of self-discovery, I learned that my greatest challenge was the discipline to live what I had learned and embraced as my desired way of life. I knew that I had to get out of my own way, in order to move forward. With two reflections looking back at me, I realized had no choice.

I am now learning to balance mothering two babies, writing projects, working on myself, daily life responsibilities, and seeking spiritual fulfillment. I wanted to use this blog as a pathway to share my journey, and inspire other Mothers to live their best lives, despite the stress of it all. The greatest lesson I have learned thus far, is that becoming a mother is a golden opportunity to tap into an innate power that can lead to boundless possibilities. It is a pathway to self-awakening, oneness, and personal freedom.

So, take this journey with me, open your heart, and embrace the endless power of you, the divine Mother.