May is the month for Mother’s Day when many of us pause and take some time to reflect on our mom and/or on our role of being a mom. It can be a little eye-opening to realize that none of us would be here without mothers. It’s something we all share, regardless of cultural or global differences. As such, mothers unite us all and that’s a big reason to take some time to think about your mother. And if you’ve made feeling appreciation a habit it only makes sense to make mother’s day part of your gratitude practice:
Let Go of “Perfect”
A good place to begin is to recognize that mothers don’t have to be “perfect” to be appreciated. Making a conscious choice to celebrate and honor your mother as she is, without the pressure to see her as perfect, will free both of you to truly enjoy the day.
Practice Gratitude
And it’s a great way to practice gratitude. The beauty of allowing your mother to step off the pedestal of perfection is that it frees you to see her with true empathy and appreciation for who she is. The end result of embracing imperfection is that it allows more space for genuine love and celebration for what is.
Be Mindful
And if you are also a mother it can be freeing to take yourself off the hook too. That being said one of the healthiest things you can do is to consider how you feel about your role as a mother. When you take the time to do this on a regular basis you can then make mindful corrections where necessary and/or give yourself a well deserved high-5!
Love What Is
Letting go of perfection and loving what is are the pillars of a gratitude practice. And practicing gratitude can have major positive impacts on the quality of your life. Studies show that practicing gratitude can lead to a 10% increase in long-term well-being and a 25% increase in sleep quality. Gratitude also supports heart health, decreases physical pain, reduces depression and boosts the immune system. And it makes you a nicer person to be around. Just think how much better the world would be if we all practiced a little more gratitude.
Easy Ways to Express Gratitude
Meanwhile, here are a few ways to express gratitude for your mother:
•Write a heartfelt letter
•Cook her favorite meal
•Support her passions
•Just say it: “I appreciate you. I love you. Thank you for everything.”
Need more ideas? Click here.
Remember: We don’t have to be perfect to be successful parents or children. Letting go of the need to be perfect is also one of the best gifts you can give yourself. To all mothers everywhere: have a happy day!