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

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

Grocery Store Judgement

Why are we so quick to judge? The other day my family and I went to the grocery store, and right as we turned to the produce isle we saw friends that we stopped to chat with. We happened to stop right between the avacado display, and the flower display. Luckily for me, Wyatt quickly turned his attention to the avacados spaced in a way that bothered him and not to the vases of flowers that were not lined up in size order. I allowed him to shuffle the avacados around because it meant he would be quiet and mostly still rather than having a meltdown before we even had a chance to start shopping, An older woman walked up as Wyatt stacked the avacados on one side of the display. She very loudly expressed her disapproval by clucking at him. I shot a glance in her direction, but very specifically chose not to acknowledge her. Then she began to lecture Wyatt about not moving the avacados because he was going to bruise them. Wyatt stared blankly at her, my husband politely joked with her, and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Just A Mom

I switch off the lights and change from my yoga pants to my pajamas. As I crawl into bed, I hear my husband's heavy breath from the sleep he somehow always finds way before I do. I close my eyes and try to find rest, but my head literally feels like its buzzing. It's a hive of to-dos, and worries, and Did-I-Pay-That type questions pinging off the walls of my skull. Someone once told me that it was annoying how moms acted like their job was so hard. They just wanted to complain. It's just being a mom. That thought pops into my mind as I climb out of bed to double check that the doors are locked and that the kids are ok. I guess I do complain a lot. There are surely people who have harder jobs than I do and they definitely don't get to do it from the comfort of stretchy pants and their own home. I guess I should spend more time being deeply grateful for the fact I get to work from home and spend so much time with my kids. I should be grateful I get to go to the gym...
Post a Comment
Read more