I’m so excited that Keri from Living in This Season is sharing this guest post today! She recently launched her e-book Why Just Survive When You Thrive. I’ve read it, and it’s stuffed full of encouragement for us women who feel like we’re constantly feeling overwhelmed and can’t get it all done. Feel like that? Then you MUST check it! Thank you, Keri, for offering a glimmer of hope for us – that we can live a life that’s thriving, not merely surviving to the end of the day.
As a mom, I think it is easy to believe the lie that we need to do it all. In our minds, we believe that the “perfect mom” has well-behaved kids, laundry finished, home-cooked meals prepared, all while maintaining the perfect outward appearance. We run ourselves ragged trying to do everything.
One thing I like to encourage moms to do is to stop doing it all and start saying no.
Moms, we cannot do everything and we should not do everything. When we start to function from where we are gifted and what we are called to do, we can do a few things well rather than doing everything half-way.
We tend to feel guilty when we say no, but what I try to remind myself is that when I say no, someone else has the opportunity to say yes. As you learn how to step back and do less, here is some encouragement:
(1) Identify your priorities. When I sit down and look at my life, I have a list of priorities. Having this list, helps me to filter out everything else.
(2) Identify your gifts. What is it that you love to do? I have a friend who is so talented with baking. She always is the one who will make the most beautiful cookies or cupcakes for the class parties, so she does it and she does it well. That is not my thing, but I love to help out with field trips or send in classroom supplies. When we operate from where we are gifted, we are focusing more on fewer things.
As we identify these things, we are able to have a clearer picture of what we need to say yes to. Moms, let’s all start doing less and do less well. When we focus in on these few things, our impact will be so much greater, because we will not be so worn down.
Would you like more tips on thriving as a mom? Check out Keri’s new book, Why Just Survive When You Can Thrive.
Thank you for letting me share today!
Yes! I have been in a process of realizing this truth lately. I do enjoy blogging and writing/documenting my life and sharing, but I was trying to do too much of it. My newest rhythm is to only publish 2x/wk and leave the other days for sharing/interacting and doing things I’m also good at and enjoy. Besides, I am not so stressed around the kiddos all day either!
What a thoughtful post, Keri!
I found you on SHINE today.
Love the suggestion to serve where you are gifted!
Hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
This is something I’ve been working on even without having kids. I love how you broke this down to two simple steps! Great advice!
Do what you do well. I wish more moms would really get this! We live in a society where there is so much pressure to compare ourselves with others, no wonder moms are burned out and down on themselves. Great advice Keri.