Allgemein Archives - Johanna Canady - Doula Services

Family transitions

Where I’ve Been: Moving Forward with Shifting Dreams

Hi everyone, I realize it’s been a while since I last posted, and I want to start by acknowledging that. At the beginning of the year, I set some big …

Johanna Canady

Hey there, I'm Johanna Canady, the heart and soul behind "The Extra Hug." As a passionate doula, mother of three, and someone on a continuous journey of self-discovery, I'm here to share insights from the chaos of life. With a sprinkle of doula wisdom and a dash of law of attraction magic, I reveal what's working for me and the simple practices I'm trying. Join me on this path of ongoing learning, because, hey, we're all still figuring it out, and that's the beauty of the journey!

doulajohanna

Doula for International Families in Germany 🌍
Childbirth & Postpartum Educator 🤰👶
Mother of Three 💕 | Happy Feminist ✊ | Hopeful Vegan 🌱

🌿 The “Slime Era” 🌿⁠ ⁠ In my last po

🌿 The “Slime Era” 🌿⁠
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In my last post, I mentioned there was more I wanted to share about the kind of change I’ve been going through lately. I’ve been calling it my "slime era"—that phase where things feel messy and uncertain, like the caterpillar turning into mush inside the cocoon.⁠
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This October marks ten years since I got pregnant with my first daughter. Now, as I’m weaning my youngest, I can feel this era of early motherhood coming to an end. It’s bittersweet—beautiful in its way, but also unfamiliar as I step into what comes next.⁠
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I’ve been reflecting on this with my women's circle, and Cynthia Occelli’s words keep coming to mind:⁠
"For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out, and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.”⁠
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I’m trying to trust that this messy phase is part of becoming something new—something stronger, more grounded, and more authentic.⁠
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If you’re in your own version of a “slime era,” know that you’re not alone. We’re all just growing through the mess. 💛⁠
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I want to celebrate my slime era with you by offering a 30% discount on my childbirth and postpartum video class I created for international families in Germany. The class is one of things that I created (heavily pregnant with my third baby) during my early motherhood era, that I am really proud of. If you know anyone who doesn't have access to in person classes in their area, feel free to share the link in my linktree with them ❤️⁠
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#SlimeEra #transformation #MotherhoodJourney #doulalife #GrowthInProgress #weaning #courage #childbirthclass #expatsinmunich

It’s been a while since I’ve shared anything h

It’s been a while since I’ve shared anything here, and I feel it’s only fair to acknowledge that. At the start of the year, I had so many plans—launching a podcast, posting regularly, and working on new offerings. But as life tends to do, it took me in different directions.⁠
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The biggest change? We moved. 🥳 Finding a house with a big garden in Munich that we could actually afford, was something that seemed so out of reach, but it happened. Call me crazy, but around the new year I created a vision board with my middle daughter. We cut out tons of beautiful gardens and flowers and fire pits from gardening magazines and hung the whole thing up in our crowded appartment. Two weeks later, I got an email notification for an old house for rent in our neighbourhood with a huge back yard. I still cannot believe our luck. It's been one of my biggest dreams come true and it’s been a huge adjustment. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what this new chapter means for us as a family and for me personally.⁠
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And while I didn’t follow through with all the goals I set fro this year, I’m starting to realize that it’s okay to let things evolve in their own time. Sometimes life doesn’t fit into neat timelines, and that’s part of the process.⁠ ⁠
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This quote by Emma Mumford really speaks to me. There was no way, I would have scheduled in several months to move to our dream home. But it is definitely something I learned from this experience: to leave time in my calendars for miracles.⁠
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There’s more to say, but I’ll leave that for the next post, where I’ll talk about a different kind of change I’ve been going through—the messy kind, where it feels like everything is falling apart, but maybe that’s just what growth looks like. 🌱⁠
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#LifeUpdate #NewHome #DoulaJourney #SlowLiving

✨ Embracing New Beginnings ✨⁠ ⁠ The dawn o

✨ Embracing New Beginnings ✨⁠
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The dawn of 2024 brought profound reflections. Turning 40 was a milestone, yet life's fragility hit home when a close family member faced a heart attack over Christmas. Amidst these poignant moments, I realized waiting for the perfect time to follow my dreams was no longer an option.⁠
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🎂🏥🌟⁠
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With my middle child, I crafted a vision board filled with aspirations – gardens, flowers, and a fireplace symbolizing our dream home. Determined, I set out to refresh my doula website and update neglected pages. A twist of fate during a PHP update crashed everything. Panic set in as the cost to revive it seemed steep.⁠
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Then, a decision echoed: start anew. The process was initially daunting, but as I dove into recreating my website, a newfound joy emerged. Hours turned into an exploration of dreams deferred for years. The challenge was invigorating.⁠
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Now, amidst the colossal reconstruction, I find myself slightly overwhelmed, intimidated by the enormity of the project, yet more alive than ever before. The journey involves creating a newsletter, resurrecting my blog, finally launching a podcast, and unveiling a Patreon page.⁠
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🌐📰🎙️⁠
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Life is a chaotic construction site right now, and I'm navigating through it with passion and purpose. Here's to the thrill of new adventures and the pursuit of dreams! 🔨✨ ⁠
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#NewBeginnings #DreamChaser #PassionProject #LifeIsShort #WebsiteRefresh

Picture by @doulaheart_photography 💗

I am part of an incredible program right now calle

I am part of an incredible program right now called the Mama Mastermind led by the wonderful Gabrielle McDade @the_postpartum_coach⁠
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During the first call I opened up about my struggles to find my way back to doula work after the birth of my third daughter. Probably all working mothers are familiar with the feeling of being torn between their family's needs and their own desires. What is new for me during this parental leave is that my work is not merely a necessity. It is a magnet of its own that has a strong pull on me. ⁠
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Our life is so rich right now, so full of joy and fun. And it is also so chaotic and so utterly exhausting. I find it hard to make time for me and for my work. Asking my husband for more support when he is already juggling more balls than ever before, feels excessive. Getting my daughter into daycare ealier than absolutely necessary just so I can focus on the work I love so much, feels selfish. Eagerly leaving the house on Sunday afternoons to teach childbirth and postpartum classes instead of spending time with my family, feels callous.⁠
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Gabrielle listened and then she gave me an affirmation to chew on: I am unapologetically taking up space.⁠
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First, I had a hard time even wrapping my tongue around those words. Slowly though, I let the meaning sink in. It still doesn't come easy to me to ask for more, be more than my conditioning deems decent and appropriate. But it is easier than it was a year ago, much easier than five years ago. It becomes clearer to me every day that following my heart creates more energy for me and my family that it takes away. And when I see my children do it, then all of a sudden it is not only reasonable but welcome.⁠
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My next childbirth and postpartum class starts April 30, 2023. Thank you Gabrielle for keeping me focused and unapologetic ❤️

#doulasinmünchen #pregnantinmunich #unapologetic #askingformore #childbirthandpostpartumclass #mamamastermind #womensupportingwomen

One of my biggest concerns about having a third ch

One of my biggest concerns about having a third child was that my marriage might suffer again. ⁠
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After the birth of our second daughter I found it extremely challenging to make time and (mental) space for my relationship. At the end of most days I felt so touched out, so empty, that I had nothing to give. This went on for a while and I kept coming up with excuses in my head: no wonder that my libido is gone, I have a newborn/ a baby sleeping in my bed/ a toddler wearing me out and so forth. At some point I realized that none of those things were true anymore. My second "baby" was three years old, sleeping through the night in her own room and not at all keeping me from being intimate with my husband.⁠
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That scared me a lot. I didn't want to accept this state as something inevitable. I wasn't sure how to get out of this mess. At this point I had accumulated so much shame and insecurity that I didn't even know how to start a conversation about it. ⁠
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To my luck, around that time, I found a new friend who also happened to be a relationship coach. One evening I openend up to her and she just listened. She encouraged me to be brave and talk to my partner. And I guess I was lucky again, as my husband also listened. We went on a journey that brought us closer together than ever.⁠
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When I got pregnant with our third my mindset had completely shifted. I knew that prioritizing our relationship was crucial for our family to thrive. And that I needed to give myself some loving attention and energy first, before I could give it to anyone else.⁠
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Today I always encouorage the parents I work with to do something special for their relationship, ideally even before the baby arrives. ⁠
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If you are interested in hearing more about my personal journey, let me know in the comments.⁠
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PS: My friend @awakened_intimacy is still offering her warmth and wisdom. My husband and I worked with Sasha and Moritz for 18 months and I am so thankful for all the tools and impulses we received ❤️⁠
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Picture by @doulaheart_photography
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#awakenedintimacy #sexafterbaby #intimacyduringpregnancy #parentsinlove #doulalove #thirdbaby #pregnantinmunich #childbirthclasses #expatsinmunich

My life has changed a lot over the last nine month

My life has changed a lot over the last nine months. I was on a real high until the birth of my third (and last) baby. I felt confident in my work, confortable in my body and very loved by my friends and family. Then our little girl was born and I re-entered the baby bubble. In many ways it was and is delicious. Her little feet, her cute little noises, her smell, the nursing - I really feel like I can enjoy her so much. I am not as easily unsettled as I was with my first and I am not as exhausted as I was with my second. It is such a joy to see my older children giggling with their baby sister, to witness my husband having his heart melted by her.⁠
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And then there is the other side, that kinda hit me by surprise. My feeling of selfworth decreased with every month of me not working and especially of me not earning money. The more time I spend in my messy appartment with dirty diapers, dinners my kids refused to eat and clothes that don't really fit, the harder it became to imagine that I would ever feel successful again. That I would ever find the perfect balance between my family's needs and my own.⁠
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Trusting that everything will fall into place is still hard sometimes. I still find it difficult to leave my baby, even with her dad. But now, after nine months I feel ready for a different kind of birth. The birth of a new me, who gives herself permission to be unbalanced. Some days will be all about my family, but more and more days will also be about me, the work that I love, the man I love and the things that cheer my heart. ⁠
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In the words of my wonderful coach @the_postpartum_coach: ⁠
I am exactly where I am meant to be ❤️⁠
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#mamamastermind #foreverpostpartum #doula #thirdbaby #pregnantinmunich #gratitude #ninemonths

A dream come true: I had a maternity shoot. ❤️

A dream come true: I had a maternity shoot. ❤️

It was a gigantic desire of mine to have pictures taken of me and my family while being pregnant. I did not allow myself to have that the first and the second time around, but this time we were finally ready.

Kind of last minute on Mother’s day, only one week before my due date, everything fell into place. It did help that we had the perfect photographer who went above and beyond to make it happen for us. She made me and my husband feel totally at ease, let alone the kids who now want to follow in her footsteps: thank you @doulaheart ! I have no words for the gratitude I feel for you and your work.

I will share more of the pictures in the weeks to come, but what I mostly want to share is this: If you have a desire like this, I want to encourage you from the bottom of my heart, allow yourself to follow it.

Those pictures mean so much to me and my suspicion is that their value will only increase as the years go by. Looking at my big belly, now knowing that it is my sweet baby girl in there makes me so incredibly happy. We were all so curious about this little human being growing inside of me and I love how @doulaheart captured this excitement. I couldn’t think of a better investment to honor this pregnancy.

If you are pregnant right now, take a moment to think how you want to celebrate this special time in your life.

As it is hard to get a childbirth class during this time of the year, I am selling my video childbirth and postpartum course with a 33% discount during the whole month of August. The coupon code is SUMMER2022 (see linkinbio). You receive more than 8 hours of short little videos about the perinatal period that cover all kinds of topics such as recommended conversations to have with your partner during pregnancy, coping mechanisms for labor, common interventions in the hospital as well as baby’s eating, sleeping and pooping behaviour just to name a few.

Maybe, taking the time to reflect upon your birth and the time after is exactly what you need to honor your pregnancy.

I wish you all a wonderful summer ☀️

#materinityshoot #pregnantinsummer #childbirthclass #summersale #followyourdesire #soround

After falling off the face of the earth for three

After falling off the face of the earth for three months, I am now feeling into social media again. A lot has happened during that time. I had a baby for instance 😊⁠
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Our third baby girl joined the family nine days after her due date. She is now two months old and it’s already hard to believe that she was ever not here. She brings so much joy to our lives.⁠
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But this post is not about her birth or about being a family of five. This post is about a feeling that is new to me, something I did not experience after the first to births: I miss my work. I miss it so deeply. After going through pregnancy again myself, being overdue and all, I feel the urge to be there for other mothers and their families even more than before.⁠
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Before becoming a doula, I also did like my job. But the second my babies were born I did not think of it at all until the day I had to go back. That is different this time. I want to sit with mothers and their partners and listen to their stories, hear about their hopes and concerns. I want to be there for them while they give birth and hold space for them during the early postpartum days. I want to teach childbirth classes again.⁠
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And at the same time, I cannot imagine being away from my baby. I love carrying and nursing her and the thought of leaving her for more than two hours seems impossible right now.⁠
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I could feel growing concern in my chest: how was I supposed to reconcile doula work with having a small baby plus two other kids? How would I find the time to do anything if I could hardly make time for a shower? ⁠
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continued in comments

There might be such a thing as too many books abou

There might be such a thing as too many books about birth, breastfeeding and the postpartum period, but I have yet to experience that 🙃

#inamaygaskin #birthingfromwithin #givebirthlikeafeminist #amybrown #doulalove #pregnantingermany #tenmoons #thepositivebirthbook #expectingbetter #pregnantingermany #childbirtheducation #birthnerd #ilovebooks

Spent the day walking and planting strawberries on

Spent the day walking and planting strawberries on our balcony. Now the sun is about to set and I find myself enjoying a quiet and peaceful moment with my baby sipping coconut water 🥰

#dueanydaynow #coconutwater #balconylife #pregnantingermany #pregnantin2022 #dolcefarniente #waitingforyou #weloveyoualready #lastdaysofpregnancy

It is really hard to wrap my head around the fact

It is really hard to wrap my head around the fact that I will get to hold a real baby again soon. Not a plastic one and not a baby I get to hold for a couple of minutes during a postpartum visit, but my baby. It feels totally surreal.

Most of the time the predominant feeling is gratitude. At other times I feel anxious. How will the arrival of this child change my life? How will it affect my older children, my marriage, my work? How will it change me?

And then I think of the last two times we became parents. How our daughters enriched our world. They were and still are my teachers making all the areas I need to work on really obvious, showing me what it means to be authentic.

I am so thankful that, on top of the babymoon with my husband, I also got to spend one special day with each of my children last week. Just following their lead felt so lovely. Not needing to go or be anywhere than in the moment with them. I felt honored that they would share their thoughts with me, their dreams and also their worries.

There is this Maya Angelou quote I really love: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

I have a ton of regrets when I think about the many "mistakes" I made with my children, especially in the first years of parenting. And then I am just grateful for the people, the books, the podcasts that helped me find new ways and do better. Not only for my kids but for myself. Which ends up being the same thing, right? When we feel fulfilled as people, we are also happier mothers and more affectionate partners.

My self-talk is still far from loving on many occasion (for example after almost setting my dear friends' house on fire), but it is better than it has ever been. And every time I look at my children or my big belly, I feel propelled to really love myself better every day. One tiny step at a time.

Picture by @doulaheart

#onestepatatime #thirdchild #doulalove #gratitude #pregnantingermany #birthmatters #childbirthinternational #internationaldoula #mayaangelou #childbirthclass #fulfilledwomen #39weeks

Hi 🥰 My name is Johanna and I am a doula as we

Hi 🥰

My name is Johanna and I am a doula as well as a childbirth and postpartum educator for internationalfamilies in Germany. I am 38 years old and currently 39 weeks pregnant with my third child 🤰

#childbirthandpostpartumclass #podia #expatsingermany #internationaldoula #babymoon #expectingmom #eibseelake #birthmatters #thelawofattraction #theonething #havingababyingermany

Anyone else struggling with how much the last week

Anyone else struggling with how much the last weeks of pregnancy make you slow down? Going on a babymoon with my husband was a great reminder that it is not only ok to give into that slowness, but that it is essential 💕

#slowdown #giveyourselfpermissiontogrow #38weeks #thirdbaby

Personal recommendation: if you are pregnant, no m

Personal recommendation: if you are pregnant, no matter if it's with your first or with your last, grab your partner and go on a babymoon. Expose yourself to a new surrounding, ask each other new questions and create new memories. They will nourish you during the times when the nights are too short and endless at the same time.

#babymoon #eibsee #creatingnewmemories

I did it!!!!!!!!! I just pushed the "Publish" butt

I did it!!!!!!!!! I just pushed the "Publish" button on my online video childbirth and postpartum course for international families in Germany. 🥳🤩😇⁠
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My whole body is trembling from excitement and exhaustion. I do not think I would have taken this project on this late in my pregnancy if I would have understood the magnitude of it 🙃⁠
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I recorded, cut and edited 144 little clips which adds up to more than 8 hours of video content about pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. I covered all the topics I also cover during my live childbirth classes, answered the most frequently asked questions and added checklists, visuals and links to a plethora of ressources.⁠

Is it perfect? No. Did I give it my all? 100%!
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In February, I thought that the recording part would be the hardest, but after creating 144 thumbnails for the videos I am not so sure anymore 😄⁠
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I am just so so happy that this is done. I can focus on my own upcoming birth now, knowing that parents who want my input and guidance have access to my class now, even if I will be busy breastfeeding 😊⁠
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I am so thankful for all the people who supported me during this journey. I am so grateful to my husband who took care of our children while I was totally absorbed with my work, to @douladarby who got me into teaching childbirth classes in the first place, to all the families that came to my classes and broadened my horizons with their stories and their questions and my beautiful friends who encouraged and believed in me. #VCforever ⁠
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I am also very thankful to @impacthubmunich, @nichole_joy__ and @lawofattractionchangedmylife who all played an important part in the genesis of this project.⁠
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As mother's day is approaching (in Germany it's on the 8th of May this year) as quickly as my due date, I offer all interested parents a 20% discount until then. The coupon code is: MOTHERSDAY22⁠
You find the link to my course in my bio 💖⁠
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#theonething #itisdone #podia #childbirthandpostpartumclass #expatsingermany #doulalove #gratitude #pregnantingermany #birthmatters #childbirthinternational #internationaldoula #schwangerinmünchen #childbirthclass #pregnantin2022 #mothersday #ididit

The last months have been such a whirlwind that I

The last months have been such a whirlwind that I cannot wait to finally catch a breath and really let the reality of my upcoming birth sink in. Some of you asked me if I managed to do all the things I professed doing if I were to have another child. The answer is yes and no.⁠
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I was lucky enough to engage the same midwife that was also there for the homebirth of my second daughter. It was such an emotional moment for me when she walked in the door for our first prenatal and my 4 year old felt immediately drawn to her. Having my family around me for most of the check-ups felt like a true blessing and my heart was bleeding again for all the mothers who had to go through nerve-wrecking check-ups on their own over the last two years.⁠
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Also, I did start bellydancing with @wiebketanzt_muenchen, which keeps being a real treat. After every class my body feels stronger and smoother at the same time. The swaying movements feel familiar and intuitive for birth and I am curious to see which ones will make it to my birth experience.⁠
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My partner and I had the most beautiful babymoon in Garmisch last week and that felt like heaven. Being in this beautiful scenery, walking through nature, laughing, eating and resting together - it was more than I could have ever imagined. We did our homework and decided on names and we just enjoyed each other's company and felt overwhelming gratitude for the bond that we share.⁠
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I did not however move my body as much as I would have needed, I didn't eat as well as I hoped and first and foremost, I didn't pay this pregnancy a whole lot of attention. As I was still supporting births until March and tought classes until Easter, my focus was more on other people's journey than on my own.

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Not a day goes by that doesn't leave me feel torn

Not a day goes by that doesn't leave me feel torn between all the things I would like to do. Between my family, my work, my personal needs, my relationships and everyday admin and chores there never seem to be enough hours in the day.

Throw in late pregnancy and 14 days of quarantine and you can tell what March looked like in our house.

I felt so frustrated about the forced break, as I had just finished recording my video class. There was the pressure to get to the editing part as the due date of our third baby seemed to be approaching at light speed.

And then I let go, realising that getting healthy and making it through two weeks of isolating at home with two very energetic children, had to be my top priority. What helped keeping me sane, was the book we read with @francescaamber 's book club that particular month: The One Thing by Gary Keller.

It resonated with me on so many levels and once April came around and we were all helathy and free again, I was eager to implement the lessons that sticked with me the most.

The author suggests that the way to get the most out of your work and your life is to go as small as possible. What is your one thing you want to achieve today/ this week/ this month or this year. Keller asserts that our work life is divided into two distinct areas – what matters most and everything else. And until your one thing is done, everything else is a distraction. For me it felt so freeing to boil it down to just one thing a day that was my priority instead of attending to everything, and not finishing anything.

However, "work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls– family, health, friends, integrity– are made of glass."

So when I got my notebook out to plan for April, I marked all the days I wanted to take off work first. I planned for time with my children, my husband, me time and time with friends. It felt so good to see all those islands of connection and recreation distributed all over the month.

I cannot believe that I made it through this week.

I cannot believe that I made it through this week. It was for sure one of the most challenging weeks I had in a long time. While the world is in turmoil again, I buried myself in work.⁠
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I took the week off to finally record a video version of my childbirth and postpartum class which I wanted to do for almost a year. There were so many things holding me back.⁠
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I just get awkward when a camera is directed at me. I didn't know how to do the lighting or what microphone to use. I had no idea how to make enough space in my appartment to set up an amateur recording studio while my children were running around. I didn't even know how to properly put on make up or what to wear 😄 First and foremost I didn't believe that I would find the energy and the discipline inside myself to see that project through.⁠
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The only thing I knew is what I wanted to say, what I want the parents who come to me to take away from my classes. And I knew that I had a deadline. I am 29 weeks pregnant today and I feel my body getting heavier and slower by the day. ⁠
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The week started rough with my daughter not being able to go to daycare on Monday. A doctor's appointment that stole half my morning on Tuesday. On Wednesday the last mother I was supporting informed me that her waters broke. Thursday I got to be there for the birth of her precious son. The birth was beautiful, but afterwards there were scary complications that left their mark on my spirit. Then I experienced really intense challenges in personal relationships and there were moments in which I didn't believe I could finish what I started.⁠
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The Magical To-Do-List is another exercise I wante

The Magical To-Do-List is another exercise I wanted to share after doing the Magic, as I enjoyed it so much.
On day 18, you basically write down a list of things you wish somebody else would do or solve for you and then lean on gratitude even more to help you with those things.

It can be anything from mundane tasks to "I need my day to have 35 hours". You won't know how it will happen or how those things will be done for you. Your only job is to be as grateful as you can be for what you want done, as though it were done already.

My list had a lot of things that have to do with work. First of all my laptop microphone stopped working about a week before. I literally tried everything, watched 100 youtube tutorials, got really intimate with all the different settings, installed new drivers and so on. Nothing worked and I was about to loose my mind every time I had to enter a zoom meeting with two devices so people could hear me. Admittedly, a tiny first world problem, that did cost me a lot of time and nerves though. So, it ended up being the first thing on my magical to do list.

And guess what. The next time I entered a meeting and was about to signal my conversation partners that I need another minute so I can also join with my phone, they laughed and told me: We can hear you very clearly. 😃

I was stunned and just so glad. I don't know how it happened, and I didn't care. I was just so thankful that I could make myself heard again 😇

The next things on my list were
◾ finding an easy bookkeeping tool
◾ getting at least for couples for my March/April childbirth class
◾ record my video childbirth and postpartum class

Two days later, a dear friend suggested wave for bookkeeping and I love it. It makes my life so much easier. 💖

And another week later I had six couples registering for my Spring class, which makes me so happy 🥰 I am so sad to take a break from in person classes for a while when the baby comes, so it fills my heart with lots of joy to know that I get to support at least six more families in March/April.

#gratitude #magicaltodolist #themagic #doulalove #help #bookkeeping #childbirthclass #expatsinmunich #pregnantinmunich #munichbabies2022

Once I was able to walk again I had way less time

Once I was able to walk again I had way less time for social media. I did finish the Magic however and it was glorious.

Some of the practices I will keep using regularly are "Heal your relationships", "The Magical to do list" and "The Magical air that you breathe".

On day 15, the prompt was to think of a relationship that is difficult or problematic for you. If the person is still in your life or even still alive, does not matter for the practice. The only thing that counts is that you perceive the relationship as emotionally trying. And then sit down and make a written list of ten things you're grateful for about the person you've chosen.

Rhonda Byrne claims that by holding on to bad feelings about a person, you are only hurting your own life and that gratitude will transform your emotional pain into healing faster than anything else.

I first chose a close family member who decided to cut ties with me, my husband and my children seven months ago. They don't even know that I am pregnant yet.

At first, I found it really hard to come up with ten things to be grateful for as the only things I could feel were sadness, disappointment and anger. Once I started to dig deeper though, more and more happy memories came to the surface. Also, I relaized that without that person my husband wouldn't even exist and he wouldn't be the person he is today which allowed me to instantly feel tons of gratitude.

After finishing the practice, I felt really calm. I am still not happy about the situation, but I it doesn't slowly burn through my skin anymore.

I plan on continuing using this exercise for my personal life and also when supporting families. So many of the parents I support have toxic relationships in their lives that make it hard for them to enjoy their pregnancy or their postpartum period. I am sure that writing gratitude lists for those difficult people could help the parents to alleviate the discomfort they feel and set boundaries with more ease.

What do you think? Do you think this practice could work for you?

#gratitude #themagic #healyourrelationships #doulalove #mindsetshift #childbirthclass #pregnantinmunich #family #transformation #bcb #vcforever

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