Resisting the Urge to Resist the Urge + August Affirmations (Audio)
Allowing Yourself to Ride All The Waves of Life, the Highs & the Lows, the Joys & Sorrows
AUGUST AFFIRMATIONS
Take a deep breath. Listen…and receive.
I hope this helps you. Let me know in the comments section if it did.
I can go from being utterly frustrated to cooing about how cute my child is in a split second.
It’s actually WILD.
And sometimes exhausting because I would rather stay on this high but I know that, most times, a ‘low’ is not too far away. Yes, the constant highs and lows can be exhausting. This makes me resist the urge to be fully present because I’m looking over my shoulder.
But that’s life…and motherhood. If we're being honest, we’re not going to enjoy every moment of motherhood. Everything in life comes with its share of highs and lows and the motherhood rollercoaster has more ....than most.
But I believe God allows seasons of contrast for a reason. Contrast makes you appreciate the colour and flavour of the highs and lows in life. The ugly-cry hard parts of life make you appreciate the ‘soft-ease’ life and vice versa. The average human enjoys the comfort and predictability of sameness. We struggle to adjust to change that we did not initiate. If we have suffered long and joy comes, we may embrace it but not entirely because we’re looking at it with a suspicious eye, like me, waiting for the next low to come and sweep this carpet of joy from under my feet.
A friend of mine posted this on her Instagram stories and it got me thinking:
After some self-reflection, I realised I hadn't really learned or allowed myself to experience joy because foreboding kept me trapped waiting for the end of the high. But you see suffering? I had Olympic-level skills at it.
So this is me asking - how do I truly ride the wave of joy? How do we honour the moment for what it is? A clash of victories, broken ceilings, manifestations, the unadulterated goodness of God?
- Lily Adimefe
My lovely readers, how do you ride the waves of joy in your life? Please respond below then continue reading.
I would say, to my mamas especially - take in the highs, the giggles, funny facial expressions, the baby smell, that accomplished feeling over what you deem is a small achievement. Take it all in, because most times that is the small booster you need to keep going, to remind yourself that it’s worth it. Hold onto those moments that make your heart want to burst with love and joy. These little things will fill your regularly drained cup.
On the flip side,
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
If we have enjoyed a season or a moment that naturally brought us joy, then it makes sense that a season of suffering would not be naturally welcomed.
So another question is, how do we ride the wave of suffering? And I believe the answer is the Scripture above.
Resist the urge to resist the urge of changing seasons. Embrace each one and ask God to help you discover the hidden treasure in each one.
I love this quote from pastor and theologian, Tim Keller -
“Look at Jesus. He was perfect, right? And yet He goes around crying all the time. He is always weeping, a man of sorrows. Do you know why? Because He is perfect. Because when you are not all absorbed in yourself, you can feel the sadness of the world. And therefore, what you actually have is that the joy of the Lord happens inside the sorrow. It doesn’t come after the sorrow. It doesn’t come after the uncontrollable weeping. The weeping drives you into the joy, it enhances the joy, and then the joy enables you to actually feel your grief without it’s sinking you. In other words, you are finally emotionally healthy.”
Would you like to journal with me today?
Here are a few questions you can reflect on when you catch a breather (Answer the ones that apply to you):
What small victories did you experience today?
What moments brought joy or made you smile?
In what ways did you connect with your baby?
What progress or growth did you notice, no matter how small?
What are you grateful for in this moment?
You may feel like the positives in your life are few, but you’ll be surprised by what focusing on them will do.
I wrote about the Science of Gratitude which included starting a gratitude jar. I found it hard to start but then Holy Spirit gave me the idea to start a hand-drawn gratitude jar instead, which I have found to be much easier and enjoyable. I intend to fill up my journal with them.
If you’re a mum of littles and you would like a listening ear. You can book a one-on-one unburdening session with me here.
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More articles from New Mums Room:
The Science of Gratitude
This post is as much for me as it is for the mother or person who reads it. This is an area I still struggle with, especially when I’m exhausted, overwhelmed or overstimulated.
For the 'Geriatric' Mamas
I got married when I was 33 years old. Well, my civil wedding was two days before my 33rd birthday. My traditional wedding and church wedding came afterwards. My husband and I always planned to wait a couple of years to have children. I initially had no interest or desire to have kids but that’s a story for another day.
The B Word
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I ride the wave by staying present in the joyous moment and rest in the certainty that I've went through enough lows now, I know how to combat it. With prayer fasting and the word.