The Art of Letting Go: A Mother's Journey to Balance and Happiness

As I sit here reflecting on my own journey as a mother, I'm reminded of the three words that have helped me a lot: "surrender the outcome." These simple yet powerful words have taught me to let go of my need for control and perfectionism. As a mom, it's easy to get caught up in trying to do everything just right - from managing our busy schedules to striving for flawless parenting. But the truth is, we can't do it all.

For me, this journey began with creating a daily schedule that I had previously avoided due to its perceived realism. However, now that I look at it nightly, I'm forced to confront my unrealistic expectations and make adjustments accordingly. What did I do? What didn't I leave enough time for? Why is fourth-grade math homework so hard? Most importantly, what could I have done slightly worse to allow for more important things? By asking myself these questions, I've been able to identify areas where I can make changes and prioritize my well-being.

One of the biggest adjustments I made was incorporating exercise into my daily routine. Prior to having kids, my workout consisted of carrying groceries up the front steps - not exactly satisfying or fulfilling. But when I got my NordicTrack treadmill, everything changed. The physical benefits were undeniable, but what shocked me even more was the impact it had on my mental state. When I'm on that treadmill, everything else melts away, and I feel at peace.

This newfound sense of calm has carried over into other areas of my life. I've started a mind-body running challenge, which has taught me to listen to my body and honor its needs. I've also made the conscious decision to prioritize self-care and make time for activities that bring me joy. This includes spending time with friends - something that used to fall by the wayside as I juggled motherhood. By reserving a tennis court with a friend, I've found a way to stay active and connect with someone outside of my family.

But it's not always easy. Some days, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a good book. And that's okay. It's essential to recognize when we need rest and make space for it in our lives. I've also discovered the joy of reading before bed - something I haven't done since childhood. Tucking my kids into bed, putting away electronics, and settling in for a quiet night of reading has become a treasured ritual.

In recent months, I've come to realize that balance is key. It's not about doing everything perfectly; it's about finding a rhythm that works for me and my family. By surrendering the outcome and focusing on progress rather than perfection, I've been able to let go of some of the pressure and stress that came with trying to be everything to everyone.

This journey has also taught me the importance of community and support. Connecting with other moms who understand what it's like to juggle motherhood, work, and life has made all the difference. By sharing our struggles and successes, we can offer each other a sense of solidarity and encouragement. It's not always easy, but it's essential for navigating the ups and downs of parenting.

As I continue on this journey, I'm reminded that it's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to stumble and make mistakes. The most important thing is to show up, be present, and take care of ourselves. Because when we do, we become better versions of ourselves - more patient, more present, and more at peace.

In the end, it's these simple yet powerful words that have helped me: "surrender the outcome." It's a reminder to let go of our need for control, perfectionism, and stress. By embracing this mindset, we can find balance, happiness, and fulfillment in even the most chaotic of lives.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enyeah i was kind of miserable uh always rushing but never getting enough done stressing over little little things especially work schlepping oh lots of schlepping but not quite getting where i needed to be when are you gonna read the signs and realize that those little warnings add up to years that are passing you by if your gut says you're going the wrong way do you speed up no you turn around and if nothing changes nothing changes this video is inspired by and paid for by nordictrack okay so first i started doing a daily schedule which i had completely avoided because i didn't want to know how unrealistic i was being with time now i look at it nightly what did i do what did i not leave enough time for why is fourth grade math homework so hard most importantly what could i have done slightly worse so that i had time for more important things because if you don't have time for cheesy slow-mo you gotta look at your goals but the one thing i know i can always do number two post kids my workout consisted of carrying the groceries up the front steps it was not satisfying but then i got my nordictrack can we bring in that voice again absolutely this is your time let's go okay i know that it was good for me physically but what shocked me was what a difference it made mentally because when i'm on that treadmill everything else melts away right now i'm doing a mind body running challenge i'm listening to this incredible advice you are the only one that is responsible for your destiny learning from other people's stories my disorder was a way for me to focus on something other than the feelings that i didn't want to face in life i am going through the hills of switzerland and my trainer is automatically adjusting my incline per the terrain ramping up and down the speed basically i just have to show up and some days i feel like doing yoga or meditation there is so incredibly much in the ifit library but no matter what i do post-workout i am more calm focused i procrastinate less and i don't stress about things like emails from the school that my kid is going up the slide and not down it oh yes it's a true story number three i asked a mom friend recently if she had any hobbies and she laughed in my face there's this life balance wheel that includes leisure and fun i feel like a lot of us are lacking in this category and so i tried gardening it wasn't for me and then i reserved a court i haven't played tennis consistently since high school much less without kids and maybe it was just hitting something really hard but it made me feel better and i like to pair a hobby with a mom friend because sometimes i don't have enough time otherwise and it keeps me accountable and you know what spending time with a good girlfriend makes me so happy oh yeah i borrowed my kids bedtime routine minus the jumping on the bed you know we tell our kids take a bath put away the electronics this is tough and read for 20 minutes something i haven't done in years and it's such a more enriching way to unwind the day rather than always watching tv or working into the wee hours i don't do it perfectly every night but when i do get enough sleep i feel happier and finally this is more of a phrase but these three words have helped me a lot surrender the outcome do your best and then let it go you know i've made hundreds of videos and i still get so nervous why what is the worst thing that can happen the videos that do the best are the ones that i have fun with not the ones i stress about from the start to the finish so edit like nobody's watching because caring what people think or trying to achieve this level of perfectionism is exhausting yeah you gotta surrender the outcome on those pants this is a start i am a work in progress still schlepping can't avoid that but i'd love to hear what other moms struggle with or changes they've made that's it thank you so much for listening mom who are you talking to oh i don't know honey youyeah i was kind of miserable uh always rushing but never getting enough done stressing over little little things especially work schlepping oh lots of schlepping but not quite getting where i needed to be when are you gonna read the signs and realize that those little warnings add up to years that are passing you by if your gut says you're going the wrong way do you speed up no you turn around and if nothing changes nothing changes this video is inspired by and paid for by nordictrack okay so first i started doing a daily schedule which i had completely avoided because i didn't want to know how unrealistic i was being with time now i look at it nightly what did i do what did i not leave enough time for why is fourth grade math homework so hard most importantly what could i have done slightly worse so that i had time for more important things because if you don't have time for cheesy slow-mo you gotta look at your goals but the one thing i know i can always do number two post kids my workout consisted of carrying the groceries up the front steps it was not satisfying but then i got my nordictrack can we bring in that voice again absolutely this is your time let's go okay i know that it was good for me physically but what shocked me was what a difference it made mentally because when i'm on that treadmill everything else melts away right now i'm doing a mind body running challenge i'm listening to this incredible advice you are the only one that is responsible for your destiny learning from other people's stories my disorder was a way for me to focus on something other than the feelings that i didn't want to face in life i am going through the hills of switzerland and my trainer is automatically adjusting my incline per the terrain ramping up and down the speed basically i just have to show up and some days i feel like doing yoga or meditation there is so incredibly much in the ifit library but no matter what i do post-workout i am more calm focused i procrastinate less and i don't stress about things like emails from the school that my kid is going up the slide and not down it oh yes it's a true story number three i asked a mom friend recently if she had any hobbies and she laughed in my face there's this life balance wheel that includes leisure and fun i feel like a lot of us are lacking in this category and so i tried gardening it wasn't for me and then i reserved a court i haven't played tennis consistently since high school much less without kids and maybe it was just hitting something really hard but it made me feel better and i like to pair a hobby with a mom friend because sometimes i don't have enough time otherwise and it keeps me accountable and you know what spending time with a good girlfriend makes me so happy oh yeah i borrowed my kids bedtime routine minus the jumping on the bed you know we tell our kids take a bath put away the electronics this is tough and read for 20 minutes something i haven't done in years and it's such a more enriching way to unwind the day rather than always watching tv or working into the wee hours i don't do it perfectly every night but when i do get enough sleep i feel happier and finally this is more of a phrase but these three words have helped me a lot surrender the outcome do your best and then let it go you know i've made hundreds of videos and i still get so nervous why what is the worst thing that can happen the videos that do the best are the ones that i have fun with not the ones i stress about from the start to the finish so edit like nobody's watching because caring what people think or trying to achieve this level of perfectionism is exhausting yeah you gotta surrender the outcome on those pants this is a start i am a work in progress still schlepping can't avoid that but i'd love to hear what other moms struggle with or changes they've made that's it thank you so much for listening mom who are you talking to oh i don't know honey youyeah i was kind of miserable uh always rushing but never getting enough done stressing over little little things especially work schlepping oh lots of schlepping but not quite getting where i needed to be when are you gonna read the signs and realize that those little warnings add up to years that are passing you by if your gut says you're going the wrong way do you speed up no you turn around and if nothing changes nothing changes this video is inspired by and paid for by nordictrack okay so first i started doing a daily schedule which i had completely avoided because i didn't want to know how unrealistic i was being with time now i look at it nightly what did i do what did i not leave enough time for why is fourth grade math homework so hard most importantly what could i have done slightly worse so that i had time for more important things because if you don't have time for cheesy slow-mo you gotta look at your goals but the one thing i know i can always do number two post kids my workout consisted of carrying the groceries up the front steps it was not satisfying but then i got my nordictrack can we bring in that voice again absolutely this is your time let's go okay i know that it was good for me physically but what shocked me was what a difference it made mentally because when i'm on that treadmill everything else melts away right now i'm doing a mind body running challenge i'm listening to this incredible advice you are the only one that is responsible for your destiny learning from other people's stories my disorder was a way for me to focus on something other than the feelings that i didn't want to face in life i am going through the hills of switzerland and my trainer is automatically adjusting my incline per the terrain ramping up and down the speed basically i just have to show up and some days i feel like doing yoga or meditation there is so incredibly much in the ifit library but no matter what i do post-workout i am more calm focused i procrastinate less and i don't stress about things like emails from the school that my kid is going up the slide and not down it oh yes it's a true story number three i asked a mom friend recently if she had any hobbies and she laughed in my face there's this life balance wheel that includes leisure and fun i feel like a lot of us are lacking in this category and so i tried gardening it wasn't for me and then i reserved a court i haven't played tennis consistently since high school much less without kids and maybe it was just hitting something really hard but it made me feel better and i like to pair a hobby with a mom friend because sometimes i don't have enough time otherwise and it keeps me accountable and you know what spending time with a good girlfriend makes me so happy oh yeah i borrowed my kids bedtime routine minus the jumping on the bed you know we tell our kids take a bath put away the electronics this is tough and read for 20 minutes something i haven't done in years and it's such a more enriching way to unwind the day rather than always watching tv or working into the wee hours i don't do it perfectly every night but when i do get enough sleep i feel happier and finally this is more of a phrase but these three words have helped me a lot surrender the outcome do your best and then let it go you know i've made hundreds of videos and i still get so nervous why what is the worst thing that can happen the videos that do the best are the ones that i have fun with not the ones i stress about from the start to the finish so edit like nobody's watching because caring what people think or trying to achieve this level of perfectionism is exhausting yeah you gotta surrender the outcome on those pants this is a start i am a work in progress still schlepping can't avoid that but i'd love to hear what other moms struggle with or changes they've made that's it thank you so much for listening mom who are you talking to oh i don't know honey you\n"