With Mother’s Day earlier this month we’re keeping the conversation rolling. Mums often have the best advice, so I’ve put together three life lessons that I have learnt from the incredible women in my life.
Advice #1: Be kind to yourself
Of course, I’m going to start with the best advice from none other than my very own Ma! If you’ve got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all, was something I would hear my Ma say constantly when growing up. It was of course said to stop me and my siblings from constantly fighting but I now realise it is one of the most important life lessons I have learnt.
We all know about bullying and watching our words to others, but I think this tip from my Mum is really important for the little voice in your head and the words you tell yourself. If you are talking badly to yourself (which all of us are guilty of doing), you are limiting your ability to believe in yourself, your own abilities, and your own potential. Sounds a bit dramatic but did you know your brain will believe anything you tell it? So be kinder to yourself and only speak kind words, or like my Mumma always says, if you’ve got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.
Advice #2: There is always good, even in the bad
Tip number two is from one of the strongest ladies I have had the pleasure of getting to know through Kind Cards, Erin Canto. Erin sustained a serious injury after a family day out on the water that halted her career plans and saw her on a very long and unexpected recovery journey.
Erin’s recovery first saw her mental health head down a dark path as she struggled with the pain and limitations of her knee injury. She would make her husband Dean take photos of her at her worst because she wanted to look back and remember how awful things were and how she got through it.
Spoiler alert – this dark chapter in Erin’s life had an unexpected and happy ending when Erin feel in love with pilates which formed a significant part of her recovery. Erin is now a small business owner of KX Pilates St Marys.
An awful experience had turned into something amazing and while I never want to be in that position again, I’m grateful for the outcomes and the strength it’s given me.
Erin’s story is one of incredible strength and resilience which teaches us that there is always some good even in the bad experiences we face. We are often stronger than we think and can endure the bad days to come out on the other side.
Click here to read Erin's Story: Finding My Inner Strength and Overcoming Life's Challenges
Advice #3: We are stronger together
Alicia Evan’s is a close friend of mine and a soon to be mum after a very long 5-year fertility journey. Alicia and Elias’ journey to conception hasn't been easy with the emotional ups and downs of the chronic illness endometriosis, miscarriages, surgery and more. During their struggles the couple rallied together, and Alicia very bravely and openly shared her story and sought support from those close.
Actually, letting people in to feel your pain with you and support you is one of the most amazing things you can do when it comes to emotional healing! You don’t have to do it alone!
Alicia would allow herself to feel her emotions (the good and the bad) but also went on a self-love crusade and cut ties with anything that didn’t make her feel like sunshine and always choose joy where she could.
Alicia is an incredibly strong woman with the experience of much heartache along her conception journey. Her story teaches us that we are stronger together and that it is okay to ask for help. This life lesson is very hard for many of us as we can feel shame when asking for help and try to take on our burdens alone but in fact speaking your pain and asking for help is braver than silently battling.
Or her follow up blog, Alicia’s Story: Rainbows Come with Sunshine