Skip to main content

You Deserve A Full Cup

"You can't pour from an empty cup, so fill your own first."

The words paint such a beautiful picture of how life should be.

When you start to feel empty, everything just magically stops so you can "refill your cup."

But life doesn't work that way, does it?
In fact, it seems that when we need that break to refuel the most, is when there is absolutely no time for yourself.

There are chores to be done, sippy cups to fill, butts to wipe, practices to make, dinners to cook, bills to pay, and the very last thing on that list is "fill your own cup."

And what does that even mean anyway?
How does one fill their metaphorical cup?

As women, the formula for success is pretty clear. To be the best version of yourself you need to wear fashionable clothing, have your hair done, drink iced coffee, wax, contour, cardio, drink a gallon of water, avoid sweet treats, yoga, meditate, and substitute all your carbs for cauliflower.

Let me tell you, friends, I spent 3 years trying really hard to make myself fit into that mold in hopes that I would somehow find refreshment there, but it never seemed to come.

In fact, I just felt more tired.

I was confusing mindfulness with self-care.

Then in October, I started a 90-day challenge with Rachel Hollis, the author of Girl Wash Your Face.

She laid out 5 goals to help lead followers to the best version of themselves, but 2 of those goals were the faucet I had been searching for to fill my cup.

First, I woke up an hour early every day to have time for myself. I spent that hour journaling, writing, praying, reading, and listening to podcasts. I kept the TV off, avoided social media, and just allowed myself to enjoy the quiet. That hour focusing on me before anyone else was out of bed set the tone for my day, and it didn't even require me to leave the house.

Then, each night, I wrote down 10 things I was thankful for that took place that day.
The first 5 things were always easy to come up with, but the last 5...those were the life-changing 5. I started finding that I was grateful for simple things like hearing a favorite song on the radio, getting to workout with my friend, or that all 3 of my kids ate dinner. It forced me to shift my mindset from irritation at everything that went off plan, to gratitude. And gratitude brought with it a peace that I didn't even realize I was seeking.

I no longer felt like I was a slave to everyone else's needs. I was finally a priority in my own life.

So, weary friends, I challenge you to try the same thing.
1. Wake up an hour early for yourself (I promise you won't even miss the sleep).
2. Write down ten things you are grateful for every day.

There will ALWAYS be 100 reasons why you can't put yourself first until you decide you are worth it.

You deserve joy.
You deserve peace.
You deserve happiness.
You deserve to come first.

You deserve a full cup.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Part I Havent Figured Out

This is the part I haven't figured out yet. Friends, I can spin beautiful words on a page about all the amazing things that autism has brought to our lives. I can give you a glimpse into how we have overcome the day to day issues. But I don't know how to do this. I don't know what to do as I watch my child sink it sickness, utterly clueless about what's wrong. I see the way he holds his eyes differently. I watch as his words quickly slip from vaguely being able to tell me something is wrong with his stomach, to no words at all and just groans of severe discomfort. He swaddles himself in a blanket and stares blankly at the wall. He is spending all his energy on whatever is going on inside him, and there is nothing left to even ask for one of his favorite toys. My mom-gut sounds an alarm that this is a different kind of not communicating. This is a different kind of tired. There is something really wrong. And with that comes anxiety that I think only special needs
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gun Talk

As a hunting, pro-gun family I have one very important thing in common with my anti-gun friends, and that is that we BOTH want to keep guns out of the hands of our kids. I remember the first time I awkwardly had "the talk" with a fellow mom. My husband had been in the garage reloading ammo and the neighbor boy was intently watching and asking questions and then said: "I'm going to tell my dad he needs to learn to do this." My heart sunk as I realized if this kid just ran home and told his parents that the neighbor was playing with bullets in his garage, it could definitely be blown-up and misunderstood. So I text his mom, and in true Brandy-style, I word vomited more than needed to be said. "Hey. We definitely weren't playing with guns around your kid. My husband is just reloading ammo. All our guns are under lock and key, but because guns were being talked about, we also told your son that he is never allowed to touch any in our house if for some
Post a Comment
Read more

When Insecuritues Control You

Have you ever thought about the power you give to your insecurities? I remember one day a while back, I was getting dressed for the gym and I realized all of my leggings were still in the washing machine. My only option for the leg-day ahead was compression shorts. I died a little inside thinking about how people might judge the cellulite on my legs or think i was too big to be wearing shorts at all. Why couldn't I have been born during a time period where curves and rolls were attractive? But, then again, booty shorts wouldn't even be a thing in that day and age, and I surely would already be dead from small pox or stoned to death for one sin or another by now. I digress. I closed the drawer and decided I could just skip the gym that day. And then it hit me. I was so insecure about other peoples opinions of MY body, that I would rather stay home than risk someone thinking something negative about me. What kind of life is that? What kind of example was that setting for
Post a Comment
Read more