As you prepare for motherhood, it’s hard to know where to focus your energy. It’s easy to get ahead of yourself with all of the planning, research, and discovery of becoming a mom—from the moment you find out you’re expecting. But, if you can take it one day at a time, and focus on what you’re currently facing, you may be able to spare yourself the anxiety of the unknowns. The truth is—everything to come is unknown. And, in many ways, that’s a good thing. It means you can free yourself of placing energy on things outside of your control.
Unknowns are simply that—things that we do not know yet. But, the unknowns of motherhood are often shrouded with fear and personal worries—between the level of discomfort you might feel during pregnancy, the extent of pain you might feel during labor, the amount of sleeplessness you’ll endure with a newborn, and so much more. But, let yourself know that you can handle all of it. And, you may even enjoy more of it than you may have been lead to believe.
Your mind is the strongest muscle in your body, and undoubtedly the biggest factor in how you perceive your experiences. If you can condition your mind to ride the waves of your journey, you will likely be better prepared to handle the difficult things that come your way. Focus on what’s presently in front of you, and, in the words of Marie Forleo, you may realize that everything is figureoutable. And, most importantly, by holding space for the present, you also make room for enjoying the good moments—without the anxiety of unknowns getting in the way.
It’s not to say that you won’t face challenging times. You will. It’s an undeniable part of life, especially on your motherhood journey. But, by taking things as they come—good and bad— you can take action on them, with what you have available to you. There are resources to support you, one trimester at a time. There are experts to help you understand the changes that happen with your body, and how to manage aches, pains, and discomforts so that when you look back on them, they will have been nothing but fleeting moments that you conquered. And, particularly at this time, many doulas are more accessible than before, offering their support services virtually for the first time ever.
They say a baby feels its mother’s stress from within the womb—trust that a little mindfulness can go a long way for the both of you.