What can a mum teach her daughter?

Words JULES O’NEILL

In this article, I’m sharing my viewpoint from perspectives: both personal and professional. Personally, I have raised two daughters and can clearly see the good and the not-sogood in my choices. Professionally I have helped many thousands of women, both mothers and daughters.

Women share a common theme, whether they’re a mum or a daughter. Things like feeling they’re not enough, relationship stress, insecurity with their bodies, cluttered minds and worrisome thinking, lack of emotional control, consumerism, sexual issues, addictions and boredom, just to name a few.

And, it doesn’t matter whether these women were raised in traditional families, separated families, wealth or poverty, consciously or unconsciously.

So how does a daughter grow into a woman who feels she is enough? One who loves her body, values her mind, confidently expresses her creativity, enjoys sexual pleasure, is in a happy relationship, has a fun life and cares for the home.

I have a solution that’s simple, but not easy. Although it takes years to master and lots of personal growth initially, each step is fulfilling and will leave you feeling that you have done, and are doing, the best you can. Eliminate that dreaded mum guilt. And it’s never too late to start and receive profound results.

Start with the home. Begin to set solid rhythms. Instead of focusing on working as a necessity, make setting a rhythm your ‘job’.

1. Set a rhythm for caring and loving the home. For the cleaning, washing, sorting, decluttering, admin and gardening. For example, Mondays can be for cleaning and admin, Thursdays for laundry and shopping.

2. Set a rhythm for loving your body each day. Practise yoga to nourish your nervous system, balance your emotions and strengthen your immune system. Keep your core strong, your body fit and toned. Meditate to nurture your mind. Feed your body foods that keep it healthy and full of vitality.

3. Take time to be in nature, both night and day. Grow your own food where you can. Fill your home with plants that you love growing and things you enjoy looking at.

4. Learn to live simply and naturally. This way, you can easily afford to work less and pay for your self-care with ease.

5. Express your creativity in ways you love and with things you believe add value to your community, regardless of whether it makes money.

6. Choose a man you love who sees the value in living life this way. Each day, contribute to your relationship and feel grateful for it. Make sure he’s inspired by how much you value yourself, your home and your life. He will love providing for this.

7. Maintain a spiritual practice, personal growth and lots of downtime.

Living life this way will raise women who love who they are. I believe it will transform our world.

www.julesoneill.com