Mom, we did it. We survived another Christmas. Hopefully there were moments of fun, relaxation and good ol’ Christmas magic. But I also know there were moments of tension, exhaustion and prayers for strength. Ringing in the New Year with a chance for a fresh start and to make resolutions often sounds really exciting. But it can also be daunting.
I have made lists in the past of the things I am going to start doing. Lists of things I am going to stop doing. Lists of things I sometimes forget about by February. I do believe that goals and reminders of things we are wanting to achieve can be great. When I look back at past new year’s lists, I love each resolution because it represents something I was aspiring to in that moment. I also have always strived to not make anything too challenging.
However.
This year, I am making remember to breathe the one and only thing I focus on.
Mom, there are likely overwhelming moments in every single day. Some more than others. They can be as simple as the morning chaos of getting the kids to school so that you can make a morning meeting or racing out of work to ensure you can get them to soccer practice on time. It can be more complicated – like worrying about how to pay the bills but needing to shelter your kids from having the same constant worry that you carry around. In all of these moments, sometimes all we can do is remember to breathe.
Sure, breathing is a natural human instinct and we quite literally must do it to survive. But I think there is a difference in this instinct and the conscious decision to breathe throughout the day. When we stop and actually take a breath in and out, there is something that physically helps to calm our bodies and our minds.
When you are in those moments of helplessness, those moments of feeling like you just might lose it, those moments where you just feel lost. Those are the moments you need to breathe. The next time you pray, I challenge you to also add in conscious breathing.
The next time you think about the year ahead and it starts to feel overwhelming, don’t focus on your desire to work out more or eat fewer carbs. Instead, just focus on prayer and breathing. It will help pull you through this year ahead.
Happy New Year. Mom, you got this.
Related:
20 Resolutions for the New Year
10 Resolutions That Won’t Set You Up for Failure
Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
