As parents, we may relieve ourselves of the need to always get it right by being open to our own times of fear and self-doubt. This allows us to deeply show up for our children.

When Fear Is Present

Similar to self-doubt, fear is a significant parenting topic. There is a lot to fearfully focus on from the deluge of news reports about horrible things happening to children, mass shootings, extreme weather, conflicts, etc. Including mental "time travel" and contemplating potential outcomes, parenthood can bring about a great deal of unnecessary sorrow. By using mindfulness, particularly a consistent practice of mindfulness of thoughts and feelings, you may take control of your life and determine whether you are indeed suffering needlessly.

You are always able to change your mental focus. Fear does not indicate that the thing one fears will occur. Trying to visualize how you would handle a situation that you are frightened of but isn't happening at the moment is frequently a fruitless endeavor and can result in self-blame. "Just this moment" and "Just here, just now," two of my favorite mantras, greatly enable me to clear my head and reintegrate into daily life. You must make the decision to stop attempting to "think it away" and instead focus on simply being in the moment, accepting what is in front of you, and allowing fear to subside. You could be able to refocus if it comes up again.

Uncovering Your Courage

It is common to characterize being brave or courageous as appearing fearless. Being a mother demands bravery from the start. Even though we may enter the situation with kind intentions, we quickly realize how much we must confront that which is unsettling or terrifying. Similar to how gratitude works, it's helpful to take a moment to acknowledge your brave moments. Being able to admit when you were terrified but still took action encourages confidence development.

My client was concerned about her ability to show bravery when supporting her kid, age four, throughout surgery and an overnight hospital stay. She saw that she frequently interpreted her anxious thoughts as a sign that she wouldn't be courageous. They were a warning sign of sorts. How could she do it if she was thinking these thoughts right now?

Any one of us can be undermined by anxious expectation.

She was ashamed of herself for being afraid of it too. As she became aware of the fear, I urged her to affirm herself by stating, "This is really hard." It's alright. Rather of criticizing herself for being a horrible mother for all of the anxiety and negative thoughts, she discovered that it was incredibly useful to realize that basic truth. There are a lot of difficult things in the world, and nobody wants to experience them. It's quite acceptable to admit it.

Choosing to Be Brave

I calmed her down and washed her up in spite of my desire to cry and flee. I phoned the pediatrician's office and they advised me to take her to the ER to check if she needed stitches. Afterward, I called my husband and told him to stop working and come home. I informed my husband that she was taking him to the emergency room!

A few minutes after I hung up with him, it hit me that I wanted my children to perceive me as resilient. I pondered the message I would be giving my daughter, who was reliant on me for comfort, if I sent her off with her father, who had returned home following a whole day's absence. It wouldn't have hurt her, of course, but I saw this as a chance.

So, despite my deep dread of it, I asked my husband to watch our son while I brought her to the emergency room. After several hours and a few sutures, we were back at home and doing well. You can either possess courage and confidence or not. Recall the growth mentality. Regardless of the mind's first response, we have the ability to repeatedly decide to turn toward what we want for our child or ourselves.

Moments like those are what lead to boldness and confidence when we connect them. One more blessing from being a mommy! I also conquered my anxieties of snakes, bees, and spiders when I once ran away! Being a mother can test our bravery.

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