Trusting yourself when it doesn’t make “sense”
We skipped last week’s email because I did something very unlike me.
I took a very last-minute trip to Colorado. (Like, I had the idea on Saturday and we left on Sunday…)
If you know me, you know I like to plan things out, especially when it involves travel, kids, logistics, money… all of it. I like to (over)think things through and feel prepared going in.
This trip was not that.
There wasn’t a well thought out plan or weeks of organizing behind it. It was more like this quiet but persistent feeling of we need to go.
I kept trying to talk myself out of it. It felt crazy. Irresponsible. Impulsive. And slightly terrifying…
I was nervous about being the only adult on the trip. It felt like a lot of responsibility, and I already deal with travel anxiety to begin with. There were plenty of reasons it would have made more sense to stay home.
But the feeling didn’t go away, so I decided to say “f*** it” and just trust the process.
The whole trip ended up unfolding with ease. Where we stayed, what we did, when we rested, when we pushed ourselves a little. It wasn’t perfect and there were definitely moments where I questioned the decision, but overall it felt really good.
More than anything, it reminded me of something that feels really important when it comes to birth.
You can plan all you want, and there is definitely value in that. Learning your options, thinking through your preferences, getting clear on what matters to you… all of that is important.
But at some point, the plan becomes less important than your ability to trust yourself in the moment.
Because birth doesn’t follow a plan (and that’s not really what birth planning is about anyway, but that’s a topic for another day).
Things shift. Unexpected things come up. Decisions have to be made in real time, and you don’t get to pause and do weeks of research before responding.
You have to be able to feel your way through it.
That’s the work.
Not just learning what your options are, but building a relationship with your intuition so that when things change, you’re not thrown off. You’re able to stay grounded and respond in a way that actually feels right for you.
That’s what we practice inside The Birth Prep Circle.
Yes, we talk about the practical tools and coping skills. But more importantly, we help you build your self-trust so that when things don’t go according to plan, you’re still anchored in yourself.
Our next cohort starts March 30. We’d love to welcome you in.
If you’ve been wanting to feel more confident, more connected to yourself, and more prepared for the real experience of birth, we’d love to have you join us.
Always in your corner,
Kayla & Leslie
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