Oct 31, 2017
Welcome to Season Three on the Mama Says Namaste Podcast. In this series, my husband Nathan and I focus on how to clear the clutter not just from your home, but also your head and your heart to create that space for clarity and connection.
Join me and dive in to "The Minimalist To-Do List!”
Family
Ah, here is where the riches lie – it’s all about the family, right? And, if you have children – especially young ones – you know they can suck every bit of life and energy out of you. It can be hard enough to keep things straight with one person – add in a family members and this is beyond a full-time job, and it can be super intense. How do you set aside time to enjoy family when you can’t take a breath from working just to support the family? (Working from home can be a bit overrated – have you heard about the myth of multitasking?) How can you take the time to play and cuddle – you have to keep the family afloat!
Simply put, how can you not? The people under your roof – the ones you have chosen to be in communion with day in and day out – they are the human connection. Part of life is human connection – it is essential to our well-being. We can’t ignore this part of our lives – we must invest in it. What is your family vision? How are you being intentional about the relationships in your life?
Prioritize your family as your VIPs
How can you make your family a priority when you are living in reaction to what life is throwing your way? Our relationships suffer when we push quality family aside for the to-do list consistently. I wrote about having your Family VIPs with some tools on how to prioritize your family. Know that this part of your life is critical.
You can spend all your time working and focusing on the money. You’ll end up hoping that “one day” you’ll have the time to relax and play with your family. When you finally think you’re ready, your children are grown and gone. Or, it may be that the distance between you and your spouse has become irreparable. Spoiler alert – you’ll never be perfectly ready, no more than you are “ready” for having a child. Life is a constant curveball. This is not a compartmentalized component of your life. Your family is your fuel for connection, and that is where we thrive.
Emotional/Spiritual
We can’t disregard the need for peace. Taking care of yourself emotionally and spiritually is essential. We can’t fake our way through lives, and if we have divine discontent at a soul level, we are simply a shell with no heart. How do you keep your emotional and spiritual soul alive? Are you allowing for rest, recuperation, and self-love? Every relationship you have can suffer when you are empty and depleted. Clear the clutter in your heart and soul to give way for love and regeneration.
We can get the work stuff rolling, our finances straight, and our family in sync and happy – but if you are an empty shell of depression, anxiety, anger, etc. all the rest just pales in comparison. There are legitimate issues you have to deal with, and I am a firm believe in body/mind/spirit connection. You cannot disregard the emotional, mental and spiritual aspect of your life. This is not narrowed to a religion or an exact belief you have to adhere to. It has to do with recognizing your own self worth, your significance in this world, and how much your energy impacts all around you, not limited to your own physical health. If you are emotionally distant, none of the surface even matters.
If you are looking to promote religious literacy with your children, check out Wendy Thomas Russel’s book “Relax, it’s just God. How and Why To Talk To Your Children About Religion When You’re Not Religious” (http://amzn.to/2y90T1G)
Personal Development
In the same lines of the heart/soul component, challenging and pushing yourself in personal development is an important part of life. My education did not stop when I got my diploma. I am a life-long learner, and need to invest in this process to keep from becoming stagnant, complacent, and small-minded. There is so much growth everyday in all of nature. You can see it as a flower blooms and a toddler transforms into a teen – but it is a part of all of us. I am so thankful I don’t think and live the same way I did when I was eighteen. As we get older, we tend to set this on the back burner, or choose for the doom and gloom of the news media to be our way to grow and learn about what’s going on.
Be intentional about what you put into your mind, and what you choose to push you in learning new things. Go beyond the negative sensationalism and look for the help to shift your mindset. Focus on abundance, love, and that amazing connection with those people that make this life worthwhile.
Care for some Q&A? Hit us with any questions you have, and we’ll send you a personal email response back and may address it on a future podcast! Simply email Ashley directly at Ashley@MamaSaysNamaste.com
And remember, if you’re liking what you hear, we want to hear from you!
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- Email Ashley directly at ashley@MamaSaysNamaste.com
*Podcast music by the awesome Renee & Jeremy who cover "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" by Jackie DeShannon. Props to both of them for this beautiful rendition that epitomizes what I want for families!