Be grateful: A good friend I have always admired often tells the story of the man who cried because he had no shoes. That is, until he met the man who had no feet. No matter how big your problems may seem, remember that there is always someone else who is struggling more.
The beauty of gratitude is that it directly attacks self-pity. You simply cannot feel grateful and sorry for yourself at the same time; the two emotions are incompatible. By practicing gratitude, we begin to recognize and appreciate what we have.
One of the steps I take towards feeling gratitude in my decision to be a working mother is to keep a journal of all the reasons that working is a good decision for me. This may seem a bit simple, but having a physical reminder of the benefits of my choices is an easy way to focus on the positive when times feel tough.
Love your work: Ask yourself the following question: If you could do anything for eight hours of every day for the rest of your life and money were no object, would you do what you are doing now?
Let me ask the question another way: Are you excited by what you are doing every day?
If not, what are you going to do about it?
This is one of the most important questions we should be regularly asking ourselves. One of the biggest blessings of living in a democracy is the ability to pursue one's own path, and the amazing idea that all of us can achieve great things however we define them. But so often we get caught up in all the doing, we forget about the thinking.
Long weekends give me both the excuse and the reminder to reflect on what I am doing with my life as a working mother. Every year, I try to take a bit of time and assess what I have accomplished since this same time last year. Then I think about where I want to go.
Working and motherhood can often feel like we are living in a trade-off of sorts. Without question, survival and success are undeniably connected, and it can sometimes be frustrating and chaotic while at other moments deeply fulfilling and empowering. This is our life. This is what we live every day.
The important point to remember is that we all have the luxury of deciding how our day-to-day work life is going to be. Is it going to be fun and rewarding, or is it simply going to be a means to an end?
Work occupies a huge percentage of our waking hours and is often an equally large component of our self-identity. Life is too short to spend working if you do not enjoy it. In these times of reflection and because we are living in this wonderful democracy, we must remind ourselves that we choose.
When our work is out of alignment with our passions, our natural abilities, or our values, it's nearly impossible to be content. Take the time to find work you love. It's well worth the effort.
Samantha Knowles is the author of Working Mom Reviews. To know more about how to use trustjacker software check out Trustjacker Review Review To learn tips to burn calories and fats- quickly check out Truth About Fat Burning Foods Review
