It’s just feedback, baby

“Don’t get frustrated if you can’t do this today. It’s just your body giving you feedback that you need to do it a different way or a different day.” Your body isn’t failing you, it’s giving you feedback. -Postpartum PT in the middle of my workout

It’s not failure. It’s feedback.

In that moment, I was able to give myself grace. My body has gone through a lot pushing 4 babies into this world. My stomach muscles aren’t responding how I want them to, but that’s why I’m working out in the first place. It clicked with me. This isn’t personal. But, why does it feel personal? This isn’t about me not being good enough. It’s not failure. It’s feedback. Our instincts tell us to be more disciplined. But what would change if I took the opportunity to listen to my body and nurtured it’s needs.

Not even five minutes after this big sigh of relief, I felt myself losing patience in the middle of what felt like the millionth meltdown with my three year old. And it hit me.

Her body and brain weren’t failing her [or me] in that moment. Her body was giving her [and…her mom] feedback. Her little three year old body is going through a lot. The strength of her mental space is still a work in progress. That’s why she has a mom - to help her build those muscles. It clicked with me. This isn’t personal to me. Why do we take our kid’s emotions so personally? This isn’t about her not being good enough. It’s not failure. It’s feedback. Feedback to do things differently or to try again another day. Feedback that WE as ADULTS are responsible for stewarding. Our instincts tell us to discipline. But what would change if we took the opportuntity to show her how to listen to her body and give it grace. What if we stood up to the challenge of nurturing the needs of her body and mind?

Maybe we would raise emotionally intelligent kids. Maybe this is one of our most important contributions to the world.