Hi!
In the US, this weekend is Mother’s Day. This is a day that has, as you’d imagine, a lot of expectations, disappointments and mixed emotions surrounding it, along with a boatload of commercialization. And it’s got a pretty good resilience lesson, too.
I’m not talking about the resilience one might need to pretend to enjoy breakfast in bed that is dripping, undercooked and also burnt – though that is considerable.
I’m not talking about the resilience needed to figure out how to celebrate your own mom AND celebrate the mother of your children and also navigate it all with siblings, kids, work responsibilities and soccer practices in the afternoon – though that’s not for wimps either.
I am talking about the resilience it takes – and builds – to receive it when someone appreciates you.
Let’s face it, moms have a pretty well-deserved reputation for being self-effacing. Meaning we pretty much suck at being celebrated, gushed over or thanked in any way. Also we’re not great at taking some time for ourselves.
SO! Whether or not you’re a mom – and not every mom has people stepping up to celebrate her, I know that too – this week is a great chance to build the muscle of relaxing into being appreciated. When someone thanks you or admires you for anything at all, taking that in will build you up. For the times when your own brain wants to play on repeat the things you didn’t get right, it’s valuable to have some reminders of times when you made a positive difference in the world. Ready to practice? Here we go:
You have made a positive difference in my world. You didn’t just sign up to get my emails, you read one. Or maybe a few. You may have even responded. I think more deeply about resilience and learn more every week because I have the opportunity to write to you. I make a more authentic impact with the companies I get to speak to, have better, more real examples for journalists to consider in their stories, and I have more faith in humanity as I send my own four kids out into the world. Thank you, sincerely.
I hope you can genuinely take that in, because I mean it.
All my best,
Dr. G
