One thing that I’ve learned over the past few months, as we’ve navigated through this time of quarantine, is that I like this slow-motion lifestyle. I like sleeping in until our bodies are ready to wake, I like being with my family all day, and I like having nowhere to go except out into nature.
At the beginning of it all, I joked that I’d been waiting my whole life for this type of living. I’m no longer sure it’s a joke. I think I was just waiting for permission or an invitation to slow down.
One of the most valuable gifts I’ve received in this time is the gift of a book, Inspired Mama: The Empowered Mother’s Guide to an Intentional Life by Sez Kristiansen at TCK Publishing.
Now, I’ve read plenty of books in this genre, Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist, More for Mom by Kristin Funston, and Do Less by Kate Northrup, just to name a few. Some have hit and some haven’t. The ones that missed, for me, missed because they only skimmed the surface, or focused too much on the why and not enough on the what now? (I will admit, I 100% ate up what Kate Northrup is putting out – but I mainly applied it to my work life and not to my family life.)
What truly sets this book apart is that it isn’t just beautiful storytelling. It does have gorgeous and vivid storytelling, but it also has a practical action plan. It’s more guide book than story book and that appeals to my practical sensibilities. Let me tell you more..
Here are the top 3 things I love about Inspired Mama: The Empowered Mother’s Guide to an Intentional Life by Sez Kristiansen:
Her Writing Style
Sez Kristiansen has a way with words. It’s no surprise to find out her initial love of writing was in poetry form. All of her sentences and paragraphs feel like poems themselves.
But, too much of that type of language can get too heavy and cause me to lose focus. This book is a perfect balance of beautiful, heart wrenching, and relatable prose combined with simply explained, practical action items.
When she switches from storytelling to action items, there is no BS or fluff. This type of writing really worked for my brain. Each switch-up was like a mental brain break for me. I got the beauty with some breaks for practical.
The Way the Book is Formatted
This book has 3 parts. Each of the 3 parts ends with a quick summary.
Part 1 explains the problem. In the last chapter of part 1, you get a 13 day plan to follow in order to begin making inspired action. As I said, for every story, idea, or suggestion – there are simple practical steps you can take to transform your life.
After reading part 1, I paused for 2 weeks to take 13 days and implement each step suggested before moving on. The steps definitely build on each other, and it was hard to stick to it at times, but by the end of the 2 weeks, things felt more simple. I can report that I have continued with most of these action items each day since.
Part 2 offers a guide for designing the exact type of life you want to live. Again, you find the signature stories you’ll have grown to love followed by practical action items.
Part 3 delves into expanding your comfort zone and giving into wanderlust. This section especially hit home for me.
How She Explains Journaling
I’ve been resistant to journaling my entire life. I remember hating it even in grade school. This was likely because I had the worst handwriting and holding a pencil or pen was painful for me.
Now that I’m older journaling hasn’t gotten any more fun for me. After writing all day, the last thing I want to do is write more for fun. But, every single person I talk to tells me I should be journaling, especially as part of my morning routine.
For me, journaling has felt self indulgent. I mean, aren’t my blog posts self indulgent enough? I need to keep a notebook of all of my thoughts, too? But, the way Sez Kristiansen explained journaling in chapter 5 of this book finally connected for me. She says,
“Your journal doesn’t need to be a grand biography; it should be more an objective set of notes about someone for whom you care deeply and wish the highest inner well-being: yourself.”
Sez Kristiansen, Inspired Mama: The Empowered Mother’s Guide to an Intentional Life
This idea worked for me. It’s less overwhelming than the idea that I need to get it all out of my head. I now write in my journal as if I’m a friend, observing and giving advice or cheering them on.
If you’re looking for a go-to book that won’t just tell you to slow down and build an intentional life, but will tell you exactly what steps to take to make it happen, grab yourself a copy of Inspired Mama: The Empowered Mother’s Guide to and Intentional Life. And, once you’ve read it, let me know in the comments what you thought! I love discussing books! Don’t forget to check out the author’s website and show her some love!
