January 16, 2022
Today’s Living Arts blog post comes to us from Chinyelu Kunz, owner of WeNurture and LifeWays North America board member:
Welcoming the New Year gives you opportunities for a fresh start in areas of your life where you want to see change. It’s like taking a deep breath and starting again. You can set new intentions and affirm what you want to see more of in your life.
Acceptance, Self-Love, and Forgiveness is the breath of fresh air that’s needed for a fresh start.
This year, let your fresh start begin with self-love! When you love and nurture yourself you open up to new possibilities with a clearer vision about what you want more of. Loving yourself allows you to accept yourself just as you are without criticism or judgment. It makes it possible for you to forgive and let go of your past mistakes and misjudgments.
How you love and care for yourself plays an important role in how you parent, in your relationship with your child and in home life.
Are you looking to make changes in the way you parent?
Do you have new intentions that you’re excited to make happen in the way you parent? Whether your intention is to be a calmer parent, yell less, respond instead of react, bring more joy into your home or have more patience, affirm to yourself that change is possible. Wherever you are on your parenting path, you can always turn around. You can give yourself permission to turn around when it’s clear that the path you’re on isn’t right for you. Give yourself permission to get unstuck, to choose a different way, to start again.
Your new path will feel like an exciting new journey and it will give you renewed energy in the way you parent even if it’s the most simplest change. Once on your new path, create daily affirmations like I love myself, Today I did my very best, because they will cheer you on! It’s also important that you work on knowing yourself better, that you release emotions, create a gratitude practice for a more positive outlook, cultivate a self-care practice and release stress everyday.
Do you want to have a better relationship with your child?
The changes that you make in the way you parent is a giant step in that direction. When you’re able to be less judgmental and forgive and let go, then you’ll find that you will be more understanding and less judgmental of your child’s challenging behaviors. You’ll find that you’re able to let go of behaviors that once triggered you.
When you speak words to your child that affirms that they are valuable, needed, and important not only as a member of your family but also as a human being you strengthen your relationship with them. You learn to accept them as they are unconditional.
Words to affirm your child can look like…
– I will always, always love you!
– You are wonderful!
– I believe in you.
– You are important!
– I love spending time with you!
When you affirm your child with meaningful, positive words you instill in them a sense of self-worth and you deepen your relationship with them. Not only is the result a better relationship but your confidence in parenting will grow!
If you haven’t had a chance yet listen to our We Nurture Season 5 episode 13 – ‘How to Thrive Intentionally as a Family’. You’ll find some helpful tips! Click here to listen.
Do you want to cultivate more joy in your home life?
As a new mother, I discovered that my days with my young son could easily be filled with so much joy even if, at first it was hard to adjust to establishing healthy daily rhythms, repeating them consistently every day and not having quite the flexibility as I did before. Then I learned how to center joy each day by creating simple rituals.⠀⠀⠀
I discovered that the simple rituals that I created and looked forward to each day not only lifted my days, my mood, my tone of voice, and my steps but especially that deep place in me that radiates love! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I discovered that simplicity is freeing and repetition is an expression of faithfulness and that rituals actually become gifts that we lovingly give.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I discovered that in living with the daily rituals I created, my son was receiving, through my gestures, actions, tone of voice, and attention expressions of my interest and care which are also expressions of love. AND because I was also receiving the same, these rituals became acts of self-love and self-care! ⠀⠀
I discovered that when a heart is full, THAT heart cannot help but be joyful and THAT joy will spill out to bring more joy!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To learn how you can cultivate more joy in your home, listen to Season 4, Episode 7: The Key to More Joyful Days with your Child part 1 and Episode 8 which is part 2! Click here for part one. Click here for part two.⠀⠀⠀
In this new year, in your fresh start, my wish for you is that you find ways to nurture, care for and love yourself more than ever before because nurturing yourself makes it possible for you to deeply nurture and care for your child and your family.
Sending Blessings & Love to you all,
Chinyelu