The Wrong Question
As moms in modern day, can we really have it all? This is such a polarizing question in the online mom community. I believe the answer is yes, but I also think we are asking the wrong question.
Instead of asking “Can I have it all?”, we should be asking, “Do I really want it all?” It reminds me of an example Jack Canfield wrote in his book The Success Principles (great book BTW.) He points out that many people may say they’d love to have an Olympic gold medal, but they don’t actually want to put in the incredible amount of time and effort it takes to earn one.
Yes, I could teach you my ninja-like time management skills so that you can: have an immaculately clean home, all your clothes clean and pressed, daily educational games with your kids, homemade meals from scratch, a car without empty wrappers and crushed crackers on the floor, 6-pack abs, well-dressed kids, and time to help your kids with their homework, drive them to and from sports/activities, volunteer at school, and make money on a side hustle. Whew. I’m exhausted just writing all that!
If you stop to think about it, do you really want to put in the effort to accomplish all of these things? Do you want your life to be perfect? If your answer is yes, make sure you like your reason why. If this is just something you want, go you. You don’t need to justify it to anyone. I can even help you achieve this.
Redefining Having it All
If you want all of this because you think it will make you happy, make people like you, or you just feel like it’s what you’re “supposed” to do, then it’s time to rethink your goals and priorities. What is most important to you? Which things do you feel pressured to do, but you don’t really care about? We are often so clouded by expectations and “shoulds”, that we forget what we truly want.
I encourage you to take some time today to define what having it all means to you. I believe I have it all. The floor of my car may look like a garbage can and I don’t spend an hour each day perfecting my 6-pack abs, but these things aren’t important to me right now. They don’t fall under my personal definition of having it all, so I don’t give them another thought. There is no need to compare myself to others or feel less-than. I am living my life intentionally and owning my definition of having it all.
What does having it all look like to you? Hit REPLY to this email and let me know! Then give yourself permission to go and do that and forget the rest.
