I am going to get real in today's episode as I relive the moments Mama Inspired was born. You'll hear how sharing in my loss, fear, and isolation on social media propelled this journey to discovering my mission, and how I came to understand the power of courageous vulnerability. In these moments I felt this overwhelming need from my community to cultivate a more enlightened, compassionate and empowered mama collective, to encourage mamas and mamas-to-be to avoid isolation and fear not comparison and judgement, to drive a mama-led-movement. I believe storytelling not only helps us heal, makes us feel heard, and like we are a part of something bigger, but can bring to light a perspective that changes how we view our own mess and uncover the beauty within in.
My hope is that you will begin to see the power of sharing in your own struggles. Join me as we relive this miracle and please leave a review if what you heard inspired you! Hearing from you makes my heart so happy and your words could encourage another mama to hop on this journey with us.
I want to take you back to the beginning of August. At this point it's been about 2 straight years of struggle and uncertainty ( with lots of beautiful moments sprinkled in). It's been 2 years since I became a mother. It's been 8 months since our first miscarriage, It's been 7 months since we separated from the military, moved our life to FL and transitioned from 2 incomes to 1. It's been 6 months since the chaos of Covid began. It's been 5 months since my dad passed and 2 months since our second miscarriage. Now, please don't mistake this for a pitty party. I fully recognize that life has been tough for so so many and at the end of the day I was still blessed beyond measure through all of it.
However, I feel it's important you know where I was sitting. Because this next part… is why I am HERE, speaking to you on the very podcast that was born out these moments.
On August 9th I made my first real post since February. To put this in persepctive I had been posting everyday if not twice a day up this point, cause that is what you DO as a network marketing coach. This post was a concise summary of our life over the last 8 months, an apology for concerning so many, and a reassurance that we were ok and doing well despite the challenges. While it was something I agonized over for weeks leading up to the very day I hit" post, " it was freeing and cathardic. For one it allowed me the opportunity to process my emotions by getting back to something I love- writing, and 2 it helped me get over my fear. It took me weeks, no months to write this post, because I couldn’t find the words to say everything, without saying EVERYTHING. I didn't want pitty and I didn't want to be the woman complaining about her life when so many others are simply surviving and dealing with much more loss and hardship than I. Lastly, I simply wasn't sure I was ready to break the silence I had become so comfortable in.
But then…these people, my community, YOU… who'd I shared my life with in detail, who shown up for me, and who I worked hard to motivate and inspire on the daily… poured into me and you guys it about made my heart explored. But in reality, it left me weeping for 2 straight days. The messages, the texts, were flooding in and I felt like I was being wrapped up in an embrace of love, support, and acceptance. I heard from women who told me their own stories of loss and those who simply thanked me for being a voice of vulnerability.
That post and what came next is nothing short of magical. In the days following I felt like I was in a rushing river of emotions that guided me through bends, pivoting my thinking, filling me with inspiration and courage, until it carried me to the mouth where it felt like two hands grasped my faced and said don't you see? You guys never in my life have I felt such power, nor a calling, at least that I can recognize.
I had been listening to a podcast ( imagine that), specifically an guest episode (with my now mentor) Stefanie Gass and I had been fighting this tug with thoughts of " Who am to do this? I am not qualified for this. What if it fails? " and then she said exactly what I needed to hear at that very moment. She said " We are not qualified to judge our calling," " God qualifies the call! There is a reason he is choosing people who seem unqualified. It's to make the point. It's to say- Are you willing to step up and trust in faith? And when you answer -yes I am… WATCH that magic unfold." I finished the episode, walked out to Cameron on the lanai and said I have something big I want to talk about. He said " let's hear it"… At this moment I could actually say the words outloud "I think I'm going to start a podcast."
What came after was ALLLLL the ideas, the inspiration, and verbally processing my qualifications and reasons why I HAD to do this and I had to do it NOW.
I had just witnessed through my own moments of vulnerability, the power of speaking out and sharing my story.
I've spend a lifetime growing resilient and more self-aware, in fact I've had a crash course over the last 2 years that has made me even stronger and taught me to speak to myself with kindness, meeting each struggle with resilience, and implementing practices in search of truth, inspiration, and growth as my method of healing.
I got really good at creating self- care habits through my new role as a mom, as life changed and the struggle piled on, and I'd coached women to do the same and in the end it It allowed me to have the energy to keep up with all the #life that had happened over the last 2 years. If not for it… wouldn’t have had the stamina, when you are tired…
I've very personally experienced the power of unity among women for the first time, through 4 friendships that while special on their own, couldn't compare to the magic held when we were all in the same room. We all felt the ability to be who we truly were and whatever challenge, heartache, or confused emotion we were bearing would be felt, heard, and then lifted. This relationship opened my eyes to the force behind a collective, and honestly made me hurt to think that other women don't have this or have never experienced it's power.
Lastly, I'd just experienced a loss that I was told was common, a loss that very few knew how to speak to me about, and a loss that simply wasn't understood. This is what I couldn’t ignore.
I couldn't ignore this immense need of my community and of a community of women/ mamas I had never even met. The need to feel heard, understood, and justified in their emotions. The need to create a platform where mamas and mamas to be could come to heal and be inspired through stories from others and from their own. The need to drive a movement that encourages a more compassionate, supportive, and empowered Mama collective.
And so Mama Inspired was born.
I had been listening to a podcast ( imagine that), specifically an guest episode (with my now mentor) Stefanie Gass and I had been fighting this tug with thoughts of " Who am to do this? I am not qualified for this. What if it fails? " and then she said exactly what I needed to hear at that very moment. She said " We are not qualified to judge our calling," " God qualifies the call! There is a reason he is choosing people who seem unqualified. It's to make the point. It's to say- Are you willing to step up and trust in faith? And when you answer -yes I am… WATCH that magic unfold." I finished the episode, walked out to Cameron on the lanai and said I have something big I want to talk about. He said " let's hear it"… At this moment I could actually say the words out loud "I think I'm going to start a podcast." an complaining about her life when so many others are simply surviving and dealing with much more loss and hardship than I. Lastly, I simply wasn't sure I was ready to break the silence I had become so comfortable in.
But this is why we need you.
I believe that this is where we need support, a new perspective, and community. So many of us walk the road of motherhood feeling alone and like this place of isolation is the only option, due to our fear of comparison, judgement, shame, embarrassment, and like we won't be understood when we finally decide to speak up. It's a crippling place, it festers into something much bigger like self-doubt, hate and unworthiness… and it has to stop.
The power of hearing a testimony from a mom who's been where you've been is nothing short of life-changing. Stories from mamas just like us make us feel heard, understood, like we aren't alone, justified in our emotions, and supported. I believe that sharing our own stories does the very same. It allows you to process, heal, and reminds you that you are a part of something greater. Because when you share your story, you will get all sorts of "amens" and messages from other mamas thanking you for speaking up, for sharing something vulnerable and raw that so many others just haven't worked up the courage to expose themselves. Your one story could give a mom the courage to reject isolation. Your one story could flip the script, change the perspective, and open up a whole new world for someone who's been waiting to hear that they aren't alone, that they aren't crazy, that they aren't a terrible person, that they are capable, and that not only will they make it through, but their struggle equals growth. Your one story could change someones life.
We're living in a world right now where there is so much disconnect. We need more understanding and more love. Women have a natural bond, that has been weakend through judgment, comparison, fear, and therefore isolation. We must learn not to devalue our own pain or story by throwing out comparison, and not look down on that of others through judgement. Can you imagine what our world would look like if women knew how to support one another, and humbled themselves by speaking words of comfort, if we chose courage and not fear? If we adopted the belief that your pain is my pain, your joy is my joy ?
I'm getting emotional right now, because I've experienced all of it and because now, somehow I am sitting it the most inspiring place with the honor of creating platform, a community where we get to drive this narrative and start this mama-led-movement.
I believe that we have the power to create a more enlightened, supportive, compassionate, and empowered mama collective. In this podcast you will hear stories of journeys TO and through motherhood, motivational rants that offer up perspective and guidance on shifting our mindsets to begin practicing mindfulness and we'll cover self-care so you may learn to operate from a full cup, and lastly expertise from some of the most incredible I know. I hope you'll join me and when you are ready, share your own story.
I think that does it for today! I am so incredibly thankful for you all and so excited about what we are about to create! Chat at ya soon!
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