The power of journaling & meditation when things get tough...

Do you meditate? Do you journal? 



If so, how often and is there any particular reason you do these things? If you don't, why do you think you haven't tried them? 



Over the past few weeks I have had a very emotional roller coaster ride with my pregnancy. You can read and watch my video blog here to learn more if you are interested. I have had good days and I have had bad days. 



The story in short is that I had to suddenly go on maternity leave at 32 weeks instead of my planned 36 weeks and I was in hospital for just over a week. My plans completely went out the window and it knocked me for six. I thought I was coping well but deep down I wasn't.



I was stressing about my baby, hoping that everything was okay and that we could make it to 34 weeks to get that bit of extra growth. Funnily enough, I am still pregnant and due next week. It is funny how the universe works. 



Two weeks prior to all this drama happening I felt off and thought that I should start to slow work down a little bit, but of course I didn't listen. So I take all this as the universe yelling at me and making me take the time to rest and relax before my bubs is born. 



Now I am not one to sit around at home doing nothing. Yes I love relaxing days, sitting on the couch reading and watching movies but not when it is almost 7 weeks worth of that. I am starting to get a little antsy and the biggie...IMPATIENT. 

Impatience is my biggest downfall I think. It really can get me in a tizz and boy does my mean girl pump up the volume. I then have conversations with myself trying to calm myself down. Do you do this too when you are having a tough time? 



I completely believe that everything happens when it is meant to and no amount of wishing, praying and hoping can change that, but when you have impatience creep in you think you can control the situation. Well sorry but you can't! 



I have had such a beautiful but hard lesson over the past 7 weeks. I have really tried to control my impatience and work on my mindset. There was a reason that this all happened to me and my baby will come when the time is right. Not in my time. 



The two things that have been a HUGE help in this whole learning curve of mine has been journaling and meditation. Without them I think I would have lost my mind. Don't get me wrong, this didn't happen over night, this happened over weeks and weeks. It has only been the last week or so that I have been in a much happier place with this situation. 



I have reached a place of true surrender and instead of waking up each morning disappointed that I didn't go into labour over night, I now say to myself "I am a day closer to meeting my bubba." How much more exciting does that sound? 



I will start with journaling...I used to do this a lot as a teenager and it got me through some tough times. I don't know why I stopped it as I got older but now that I am back into it,  I will never let it go. I write whatever I feel at the time, no judgement. I just let the emotions flow out and onto the page. It is so much better to have these feelings of frustration and upset out of me instead of bottled up inside me. 



I also love angel cards so I usually pull a couple of these with each journal entry I make to help give me some guidance, support or clarification. It is so supportive to communicate with your angels and spirit guides. On a side note, I now offer angel card readings which you can learn more about, book a reading or read some wonderful testimonials here. 



Meditation has been something I have been doing on and off for a couple of years now. It is a practice that I really want to to start to make a part of each and every day because I feel so damn great after wards. 




I play around with the different types of meditations that I do. Sometimes when the weather is nice and sunny I will go and sit outside in stillness and just focus on my breath. Other times I feel as though I need a guided meditation to help calm me down. And just last week I have come across Sonesence who does meditone meditations which are so beautiful. The first time I did this type of meditation I felt so much peace and calm, it was truly magical. 



All I can say is that if you are going through a rough patch, no matter how big or small, I highly recommend that you make journaling and meditating part of your lifestyle. Make it your support and helper. It is amazing the mindset shift it can provide you. 



"You don't always need to seek outside help, it is all within you, so trust in that and start your practice today. 



This experience has made me realise how important journaling and meditation are for me and my life. I can cope so much better and my mindset is clearer and positive. And with a baby due within days I think I will need this support to help get me through the tough times as I become a mummy.



Let me know in the comments below what techniques you use when you are having a hard time. What do you turn to, to help you through? Maybe you have some meditation tracks you love and want to share with us.



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Be happy & healthy,