Wow! My first guest bloggers, Peaceful Mamas Natalie Sager and Lindsay Ambrose. I won’t try to hide my excitement. Now, as I may have mentioned once or twice, I’m not exactly sure how all of this works. (Am I supposed to write an intro? Am I not? Does it matter?). Thus, in true “Nikki” fashion, I’ve decided to simply create what I want to experience.

So. Imma take a moment to give you some back story.

I met Natalie in 2011 at a pilates studio. I had signed up for a private lesson at an un-Godly hour of the morning–no doubt so I could make it to my grueling lawyer job in downtown Fort Lauderdale at a decent hour and begin billing clients to meet my ever-pressing billable hour requirement. As soon as I walked in I noticed she was pregnant, and I immediately felt connected to her because I’d just learned the day before that I was pregnant too. As women who exercise for a living often are, she was adorable and fit everywhere except for her little belly bump.

“Look how cute you are!” I’d said out loud. “You’re pregnant!”

She had laughed warmly. “Yes, I am.”

“So am I,” I had blurted out. I hadn’t even told my parents yet. Can you believe that? Natalie, who at the time was a total stranger to me, was the first person I told I was expecting my first child.

Today it’s such a thrill to see Natalie, now a mother of two boys, totally embrace who she is as a mama and step into her greatness. Together with her co-author, Lindsay, she has embarked on a mission to change the world by empowering other moms. In fact, they wrote the book on motherhood–literally. They’re even launching a podcast, and guess who’s appearing as a guest in one of their episodes? (Yep. Me!) And they definitely know a thing or two about mindfulness, which is one of the many reasons I wanted to highlight their work.

Check them out on Amazon and stay tuned for more info on the podcast. Enjoy their post!

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Meditation, Mindfulness and all the Mumbo Jumbo

We’ve noticed that we’re much more productive, peaceful and centered when we intentionally connect to our higher self.

What does it mean to connect to my higher self?

Well, it’s kind of personal. Meaning it’s a unique connection with yourself and varies incredibly from person to person. Some people are super spiritual, some people roll their eyes at the word spiritual, and then there are the people in between.

Regardless of where you are personally on your path to peace, we would love to help you create time, space and an attainable way to add Mantras, Meditation, Mindfulness and all the Mumbo Jumbo into your daily or weekly practice.

As previously mentioned, your connection to your higher self and source/creation/grace/God/Universe is entirely private. No judgements, no explanations needed, no rules and no expectations. We often shy away from practicing meditation because we are afraid we’re not doing it correctly.

There is no right or wrong way to meditate and connect. It’s your way. However you feel comfortable and heart-centered is the right way.

Here are a few ideas for how to connect

1. Mantra
A mantra actually translates to mind release. So, it’s a way for your monkey mind (the chatter in your head) to release (if only briefly). So, what mantra could you repeat to help your mind release?

Below are some examples you can include in your practice. Try sitting on a pillow with your back straight, spine aligned, breathing deeply in for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 4 seconds, releasing your breath for 4 seconds. All while repeating one of these Mantras.

• I trust, I believe, I digest life with ease
• Breathe in peace and release
• Let it go, go with the flow
• I receive because I believe
• I am optimally health
• I am at peace with my body
• Peace begins within me
• Breathing in peace, breathing out love
• I am love, I am kindness, I am peace

Try out this Peace Begins Within guided meditation

Meditation

Meditation is a tool to help you ground, center, and connect to your higher self. It has been said that praying is talking to God and meditating is listening for the answers.

So, all you need for meditation is patience and open mindedness. You can meditate at the beach, in bed, on a pillow, in a parked car, at your desk, in the shower or bath…you get the picture.

We sometimes think of meditation only as sitting on a mat. We can practice it at any time though, this is called walking meditation.It can be 2 minutes or 2 hours. Whatever is realistic for you.

Apply the same principles above, but with no mantra. Just focusing on your breath and allowing the thoughts in your head to naturally float by with no judgement. Notice the thoughts and then visualize them passing by on a cloud.

Try out an app like Insight Timer to choose music and sounds for your meditation or even try a guided one.

3.  Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness in very simple terms, is about paying attention to what’s going on in this exact moment it’s happening. You can mindfully chew your food, paying attention to the taste, flavor and texture. Noticing how your jaw moves up and down and your teeth grind the food into a near liquid before swallowing. You can mindfully walk to the mailbox to get your mail paying attention to how you place your foot on the ground with each step you take. Noticing the sounds, smells, and feelings around you. For a free mindfulness exercise go to 

4. Mumbo jumbo

Mumbo jumbo is only what you perceive. If you perceive everything above as nonsense then that is how it will be reflected to you. If you use the above suggestions as tools to bring yourself to consciousness, you’ll feel the greater presence and centeredness from doing so.

Check out this loving kindness mediation 

The benefits from practice may not be in the actual practice but later on in the day

It’s not so much about the actual mantra, meditation, or mindfulness practice where you experience the positive results. It’s doing these practices proactively that help us later on and we respond differently, with more calm.

When something happens that boils you up, as is natural to happen. It’s not perfect all the time. We can choose to respond differently.

We can create some space between what’s happening around us and how we respond. We can feel what we feel and then return to our own inner peace. We can return to the love, joy, wisdom, and peace that is within us.

Mantras, meditation, and mindfulness are a few amazing ways to connect to our soul, spirit, true self or higher self.

For more ways to connect within, so you can show up in parenting and life as you desire, check out PeacefulMamas.com.