The Space Around Her Soul
“When you parent, it’s crucial you realize you aren’t raising a “mini me,” but a spirit throbbing with its own signature.
For this reason, it’s important to separate who you are from who each of your children is.
Children aren’t ours to possess or own in any way.
When we know this in the depths of our soul, we tailor our raising of them to their needs, rather than molding them to fit our needs.”
✨ -Shefali Tsabary, The Conscious Parent
This one. 🙏✨
She’s taught me so much about what it means to walk this path of motherhood. Through the messy and hard. And through the beauty and joy.
Her presence + deeply curious mind have helped me unearth ‘agreements’ I’d subconsciously made with the world - about so many things.
Including gender, politics, money, our bodies, food and LOVE.
More often than not, I feel like I’m flailing in the darkness — hoping I’m honoring who she is. Hoping the decisions we’re making and boundaries we’re setting are giving her the space + skill set + confidence to GROW.
This morning — I found myself tightening the space around her soul.
Annoyed by the whines of her little sister. Exhausted by the years of working through sensory processing disorder — and the impact it's had on our whole family.
Bigs? She’s an empath on the DEEPEST level. She feels what others are feeling. And she feels called to help.
Admittedly, I found myself annoyed by her endless patience. Because, I was done.
Instead of clamping down, I stepped back.
Emotionally. Energetically. And physically.
And watched.
Silently. With tears streaming down my cheeks.
As she so patiently stood in the discomfort WITH her sister.
Validating. Honoring. Reassuring. Teaching. Encouraging. Empowering.
She held her sisters body as she moved toward something that was stirring up intense fear.
And, hand-in-hand, they did it. ✨
The joy pouring out of Bigs was palpable. Her sister — so proud.
It was such a powerful moment for me.
Watching them.
So often, my reflex is to move in. grind harder. take control.
Those are important skills.
And, there’s so.much.magic in letting go.
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Are there any spaces in your life where you’re holding on too tight? ✨
What would it feel like to let go?
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Samantha Arsenault Livingstone is an Olympic Gold Medalist, high-performance coach, transformational speaker and mother of four girls. She is the founder of Livingstone High Performance, LLC. and the online coaching course Rise Free Academy.
Samantha helps women cultivate the habits, mindset and skill set needed to unapologetically step into their light - so they can achieve their own gold medal moments - AND - open the door for freedom, balance and joy that transcends.
Samantha candidly shares her battles with her inner critic, depression, perfection, PTSD and parenting as a working mother because she believes in the transformative power of story – and the strength that comes from knowing we are not alone. She is on a mission to pay forward all that she’s learned to help others find joy and live free.
A mama of heart warrior and mama of twins, Samantha and her husband, Rob, live in the Berkshires with their four girls. You can learn more about Samantha at www.samanthalivingstone.com.