Inspiration from the Lotus

The lotus flower is celebrated by spiritual traditions around the world as a symbol of rebirth. The seeds of a lotus can lie dormant in the mud for years until the right conditions exist for its awakening, at which point it rises above the murky conditions to produce a truly spectacular display of beauty. 

Just like the beauty of the lotus flower originates from murky darkness, the virtues you seek are often born out of the messy hardship of life.  Many see the lotus flower as overcoming adversity.  I prefer to conceptualize the lotus as an alchemist.   The flower does not emerge in all its beauty in spite of the mud and darkness.  It emerges because of them.  The swampy, dirty water is the exact fertile catalyst needed to produce the extraordinary flower.  It enables the lotus to transform darkness into light and beauty. 

You are no different than the lotus.  The hardships and challenges you currently face are the exact catalysts you need to grow.    We are meant to fully experience our struggles and our pain.   It is easy to be consumed by fear when surrounded by darkness.  You may think force is needed to overcome the hardships you encounter on your parenting journey.  But what we resist persists.  True growth, healing, and transformation come from embracing the journey.