168: How to Restart Your Meditation Practice After Becoming A Mom

How to restart your meditation practice now as a new mom or mom to school-age kids (be sure to sign-up for a LIVE and FREE mom-friendly meditation session too!) This is episode 168. I'm your host Melissa Llarena. Last week I participated in a 6-day silent retreat at home. My three sons are 9,9, and 11. I am also married. I'll let you in on my inner thoughts during that time when all I could do was write post-its to communicate with the world. I want to also let you off the hook my fellow mom who doesn't have a meditation pillow, time to think on her toilet alone, or a clue how to stay put for 45 minutes without falling asleep. My focus in this snack bite episode will be on one new mom who also participated in this silent retreat and what I heard from someone who once did have all of that stuff and time to meditate like a well-rested 20-year-old goddess.   I felt embarrassed telling people I was doing a silent meditation – trader joe's I felt like I had to cover my ass and tell them I was still doing mom things – responded to my beta readers….it was not a vacation I felt like I was going against the narrative that as a mom to three, I should be knee-deep in dirty laundry and it should be impossible for me to have zen moments but the truth is... I wasn't the only mom with kids in her area on that silent retreat Let's pull out one very specific example: 1) There was a sleepless new mom with a baby…she wanted to know if she was doing it right or what to do….in that Zombie state 2) Then there's that former 20-year-old…she hadn't considered that the bar was too freakin high. You could meditate in a shower. You can meditate at the supermarket. You can meditate with your babies in their bedrooms. So here is a specific action step you can take today to start realizing the benefits of meditating as a mom…. Lower the standard of what meditating should or must look like Find a way to introduce a heightened sense of awareness to an everyday activity that you do right now Brushing your teeth Making coffee Nursing Use that slice of time to pay attention to your breathe OR Use that time to tell yourself something you wish the world would be telling you…as a new mom….such as You got this. You are doing a great job. Now, I want to invite you to DOWNLOAD 12 easy and proven meditation prompts today. I wrote out the ones that have gotten me through my motherhood journey thus far. You will also have an opportunity to join me and other new moms on a free meditation experience on Sunday, March 26th, at 8 am CST. You can sign-up for the free prompts and join me LIVE on March 26th for one-hour (babies can come) to learn more about creating a ritual that fits your mom needs and schedule. Sign-up today and instantly grab my meditation prompts to get centered in two-minutes or fewer flat! https://bit.ly/mindmom SHARE this episode with a mom who enjoys reading nonfiction and/or is writing her own.  Similar Episodes: Kuniatsu "Coonie" Suzuki, Buddhist Monk, Talks About Meditation, His Buddhist Teachings, and Building Courage, Episode 26 https://www.melissallarena.com/kuniatsu-coonie-suzuki-talks-about-meditation-buddhist-teachings-and-building-courage-episode26/ 20-Minute Heart-Centered Meditation For Moms Experiencing A Holiday Shitstorm https://melissallarena.substack.com/p/20-minute-heart-centered-meditation Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for moms who read and want to write a nonfiction book? I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. Grab your FREE chapter (complete with 5 game-changing journal prompts for moms) of my upcoming book entitled: Mom Life Rescripted: Reawaken your imagination, reintroduce playfulness into your life, and stretch your thinking. In the FREE chapter that includes 5 journal prompts for moms, you will instantly receive, get ready to: Uncover whether your mom expectations are holding you back from fulfilling your life purpose or perhaps stopping you from playing full-out on life Consider what it can look like for you to be more playful in how you are as a mom along with how you are with your kids Get a jolt of energy to reclaim your former free and spirited self into this season of your life as you continue to explore your interests as seriously as you do those of your school-age kids; uncover how to bring back your ambitious self today and have the energy to execute too. Meanwhile, check out what moms like you have to say about this chapter and my upcoming book overall! Get your free chapter today! Don't you want to feel alive again? You know who raises happy kids? Happy moms. So here is what other moms have to say… "This chapter is about getting in touch with your creative, playful, imaginative side. The part of yourself that perhaps felt freer before you became a parent, before you chose your identity and had a lot of responsibilities weighing you down. In helping you get in touch with your more playful, creative self, it not only helps you on a path toward greater happiness and fulfillment, but it also helps you to feel more fulfilled as a parent." – Mom/PR