Dear *|FNAME|*,
Today is Pause Day.
I want to give you permission to stop for a moment and acknowledge the power in this very breath. A friend sent me a beautiful reminder a few days ago, and I had to just sit with it for a minute to let it sink in. She sent it because, honestly, I have been struggling with overwhelm and overload this week.
To give you a peek into my life: I have opened my heart to abundance and welcomed incredible opportunities this year. I am intentionally trying to create space for myself and my family to avoid burnout, but if I’m being real with you… it’s not working so well right now.
I am a manager in retail. I am actively building my business as a birth worker. I am navigating the expansion of the WOMB Initiative. I am a Mother, an Individual, a Teacher, and a Student. I am Powerful and I am Tender. I am — everything, all at once.
I recently painted this piece. The vision came to me while I was setting my goals for the year: Yin and Yang, Fire and Ice, Expansion and Contraction. These oppositional forces aren’t just “in the way”—they maintain a necessary balance.
** Chaos in my Well-Organized Mind
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Normally, I have everything under control. This week, I spiraled. I land with a thud and spend a few days picking up the pieces.
Maternal mental health is a fragile, sacred thing. We experience overload and we shut down. We crawl into holes and sit in the dark. Then, we soar. We cry, we laugh, we scream, and we stay silent. If you are feeling that “spiral” today, I want you to know you aren’t alone in the dark.
** Healing in Action
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When I feel my mental health under stress, I use a specific process to find my center again. It’s my way of “Hands-on Healing” for the mind:
1. Stop and Name It: I stop moving my body and consciously identify the feeling. Overwhelmed. Anxious. Discouraged. Angry.
2. Give Gratitude: This sounds counterintuitive, but I thank the feeling. I spent 3/4 of my life unable to feel at all—always “fine” but never truly joyful because I wouldn’t allow the pain. I am grateful that I am now alive enough to feel the unpleasant things, too.
3. Assess the “Now”: If I’m in the middle of getting grumpy kids out the door or cooking dinner while “wooden stick sword fights” are happening in my kitchen, I can’t always process the emotion right then. I tell myself: “I hear you. I will give you my full attention in two hours.”
4. Follow-Through: When that time comes, I let my body release it. Sometimes I run. Sometimes I sob into a pillow.
5. Grounding Ritual: I end by standing with my feet hip-width apart. I visualize myself as a tree with roots deep in the soil. I envision the storm I just survived—the wind and rain that tried to blow me over—and I feel the strength I gained from that pressure. I feel my heartbeat, and I release that energy upward toward the sky.
** Brandi’s Journey to Lightness
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One of the most profound honors of my work is watching a mother transition from “fighting the world” to finally finding her place in it. Recently, a client, Brandi, shared her journey with me, and her words perfectly capture the “thaw” we are talking about this month.
Before we started our sessions, Brandi shared that she felt like she was struggling to connect with her kids while trying to break generational trauma patterns and be a “good” wife and mother. She felt heavy, uncertain, and in the middle of a deep mental winter.
After committing to the process, she shared this:
“Each session feels like a lightening of the burden. I mentally hug that younger me and let her know I love her. My kids and I are bonding in ways I’d only dreamed of, and I’m collaborating with my husband rather than working against him. For the first time, I feel like I’m really getting to know who I am—and I like her more than I thought I would. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.”
Mama, you don’t have to carry the fire and the ice all on your own. You don’t have to “fight the world” to be a good mother. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for your family is to finally get to know—and like—the woman at the heart of it all.
** Golden Milk with a Twist
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When the mental load is heavy, our nervous systems need physical support. This week, I’m leaning into a magnesium-rich tonic that blends ancient tradition with a modern mood-booster.
Golden Milk, or haldi doodh, is a traditional Indian beverage known for its anti-inflammatory and grounding properties. To make this a true “Nourished Mind” tonic, we need three things: fat to activate the turmeric, magnesium to soothe the nervous system, and warming spices to aid digestion.
The “Two Hearts” Recipe:
* 1 cup full-fat coconut milk or cashew milk: (Coconut provides the healthy fats for turmeric absorption; cashew milk is a natural magnesium powerhouse).
* 1 tbsp raw cacao: (Rich in antioxidants and magnesium to help you “unwind”).
* 1/2 tsp turmeric & a pinch of black pepper: (The pepper is the “key” that unlocks the turmeric).
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon: (To balance blood sugar and add warmth).
* A touch of maple syrup or honey.
To make: Combine everything in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until steaming and frothy, but pull it off just before it boils to keep the nutrients intact.
https://www.happyfoodstube.com/turmeric-hot-chocolate/
Sip this while you do your “Pause Day” breathing. It’s a small, delicious way to tell your body it is safe, nourished, and allowed to rest.
** Featured Event
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Birth work is heart work. Because I know firsthand how much support mothers need, I am deeply passionate about training the next generation of “holders of the space.”
I am so excited to share that I will be co-facilitating this upcoming workshop in Littleton! If you have ever felt a quiet tug at your heart to support other mothers through their sacred rites of passage, this is your formal invitation to see what that path looks like.
https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/intro-to-doulas-workshop-exploring-calling-capacity-sustainability
When you are considering birth work, there are always those “burning questions” that can feel a bit daunting. In this workshop, we are going to dive deep and answer the big ones, including:
* Is this a calling? We will help you identify if that “nudge” you’re feeling is truly a vocation and how to honor it.
* Is it sustainable? We’ll get real about the practicalities of being a birth worker in a rural community—balancing your capacity with the needs of your families and your own heart.
The Details:
* Friday 3/27: Shared Doula Dinner (https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/doula-dinners-2) (6pm–8pm)
This dinner is a wonderful, relaxed opportunity for informal Q&A with myself and my co-facilitator. It’s the perfect time to ask the “real life” questions and meet other doulas!
* Saturday 3/28: Workshop (https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/intro-to-doulas-workshop-exploring-calling-capacity-sustainability) (9am–5pm)
* Location: 74 Cottage St, Suite 4, Littleton, NH
** Free Discovery Call
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Healing shouldn’t be another item on your to-do list that causes overwhelm. If you feel like you are struggling to find your place in the “fire and ice” of motherhood, or if the mental load is starting to feel like a weight you can no longer carry alone, let’s start with a simple, quiet connection.
I offer a 15-minute Discovery Call —a completely free, no-pressure space dedicated entirely to you. It is a moment for us to pause together and see if our hearts are a good match for your healing journey.
What to expect in our 15 minutes:
* Your Story: I want to hear what you need most right now. Whether it’s about your family life, your daily work, or the message your body is sending you, I am here to listen.
* Connection: I’ll share how the Body Code and my professional expertise can specifically support your unique situation.
* Moving Forward: If it feels like a “yes” in your heart, we’ll talk about the next steps to get you back to feeling like yourself again.
You don’t have to figure out the whole path at once. Today is for taking the first step.
Free Discovery Call
** A Sneak Peak into Next Week
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Next week, we are diving into Connection & Wisdom. We’ll be addressing common fears about maternal mental health (like the pressure to always have yourself “pulled together”), sharing local resources, and walking through a “Release & Receive” ritual to help you let go of the “ideal mother” image and step into your own truth.
Until then, remember: you are powerful, you are tender, and you are enough.
With love and healing,