There is a world of energy around us that when you pay attention to it, SO much more about the world, the people around us, and most importantly about ourselves would make sense.

For example, waking up in the morning and dreading to go to work. Or absolutely feeling demotivated about having the kids home during their winter break. Or feeling extremely nervous about having that conversation with the friend or family member who always steps over your boundaries…

Have you ever thought where those feelings come from and why they are there? And have you ever thought what those feelings do to your levels of mental and physical energy?

Mothers…have one of the most challenging jobs on earth, subhan Allah! From balancing the responsibilities of family, to work (if you do work or run your own business), to caring for your own mind and body, to maintaining a healthy marriage, to your connection with Allah(swt) and the list can go on and on!

As you shift between your many roles in life, it’s so easy to chase the to-do list, the appointments, and the deadlines and forget to tune in and question where exactly the overwhelm is coming from? Where the stress and the anxiety is coming from.

Ahh feelings…

Your feelings are a way of your body and mind communicating with you. Communicating about their needs and their energy levels.

And so one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and for our families is to keep inventory of the feelings that we are visited with. And then in turn, using that as a clue to search where you are losing the energy? I know, sis… I know this is easier said than done. I very well understand that in life we go through times when we feel drained and overwhelmed and we feel so lost in those feelings that the thought of tuning into our own being doesn’t even cross our mind.

Maybe it is fear about how your children will grow up. Maybe it’s anger about how a close family member treats you. Maybe it’s leftover trauma from when you were little and how certain sounds or situations take you right back into the past, and you are not even aware that you are losing energy there. And maybe, maybe…it is the expectations you have in life. Maybe you lose a lot of energy, not feeling content. And you have never really asked yourself: “Are these expectations reasonable?”

As unfamiliar as you might be with tapping into the language your mind and body are speaking to you… as hard as it is, there is a way, with enough practice. To be more aware of what’s going on inside and find out what the source is that is causing you to feel this way.

Connecting the dots…

Pay attention to the sensations in your body. For example, when I am stressed, I am taking shallow breaths. My chest feels tight, as if I am not able to expand my chest and belly fully through my breathing. A tight chest, shallow breathing are sensations in the body.

Connect the sensations in your body with your feelings. I know from experience that this is not something you can figure out overnight. It takes time and practice, but intention is everything. In my case, shallow breaths and a tight chest is connected to stress. Makes sense and you might think that is easy. But it took me a LONG time to just figure this one out.

Your next step is to find out what the source of your low energy is. These might include people, situations, or even habits that are draining your energy.

The way forward…

  1. Set boundaries. For yourself and for others. From experience, I have learned that continuously losing energy to the same source is more on US than on the person, situation, or circumstance we are dealing with. We have not learned to set boundaries and the same loop of actions, reactions keeps happening. Causing us to continuously lose energy.
  2. Surround yourself with positivity. One of the most powerful ways to counteract negativity is to surround yourself with positivity.
    – Prioritize your connection with Allah(swt). NEVER think that you have anything better to do than your connecting with Allah(swt). When you have given your soul a good dose of food, you will be way more successful in other areas of life, insha Allah.
    – Spend time with positive, supportive people.
    – Read uplifting books or articles or listen to uplifting Islamic lectures.
    – Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. In other words, have halal hobbies.
    – Focus on the blessings Allah(swt) has given you.
  3. Seek guidance and support from Allah. Remember that ultimately, the power to change your circumstances and find peace, lies with Allah(swt). Make dua, ask for His help and guidance, and put your trust in Him.

Part of our jihad…

Sis, paying close attention to become aware of the sources of negativity in your life, spending time and effort to set boundaries around the things that drain your energy, and surrounding yourself with that which brings you positive energy, will help you maintain positive energy levels overall, insha Allah.

I feel like as mothers, part of our jihad is to maintain those positive energy levels. For the sake of dunya and akhira. In the process, seek guidance and support from Allah(swt). He is the One who ultimately guides us to the right path and blesses us with peace and serenity. Remember that with His help, we can overcome any obstacle life throws at us and find peace from within in our daily lives.

My course UNSTUCK, which will help you as a mother feel empowered and equipped with the right mindset, tools and strategies, will open for registration on February 7th, insha Allah! In the mean time, if you would like to join a waitlist, click here.  I will contact you as soon as registration opens, insha Allah!