Last week, Eden and I announced that we are having our second child.

While we’re ecstatic, it wasn’t exactly planned.  I was still in the middle of coming to terms with my own loss of self and independence from caring for our first little one, who turned one-year old this month.  What it means in the literal sense is that I’m cooking and cleaning more, as well as caring more for our daughter, as Eden turns her attention to the new life that is growing inside her.  All the while, I’m trying to keep one eye on what I’m doing with my business, attempting to be of greatest service to my clients and the groups that I serve.

It’s harder than I ever imagined.  I really did think it would be different for us.  I said, “Not me and Eden. We have the ability to communicate on a different level, not only with ourselves, but also with the new children that are coming to us.  We’ll be able to manage this with more grace than most.”  And maybe we are.  Who knows?

I used to write about the personal matters of business-type challenges.  I suppose this is a very personal matter, one that I’m actually hesitant to share.

Yet, the point of mentioning this is that we each have personal challenges to manage in addition to work that we’re meant to bring forth to the world.  Perhaps they are related to each other.  Lately, I’ve been reminded of the Cosmic Dancer.

That I have the ability to manage all that life is presenting me, with grace and ease, even though I may have to balance it all standing on one leg.  My motto lately has been, “Release the Struggle”.  I seem to be saying it to myself several times a day as I have a tendency to tighten when I’m being confronted with unexpected challenges.  Yet, I know that softness is the way.  I’m reminded of certain power animals that have made themselves known to me like the Whale and the Peace Dove.  At certain times, other power animals and tendencies are called for like that of the Jaguar.  But not right now.

If there’s a way through, to complete all of the required tasks, whether it’s breakfast for my little one, or fulfilling my own soul’s purpose, then softness and gentleness is the way for me right now.

May you find whatever is required for your journey at this time, whether it be the strength of a jaguar or the softness of a peace dove.  (Or something completely different because that’s what’s appropriate for you.)  However, if you don’t know what your power animal is that is meant to assist you, that’s something that I help people discover in my one-on-one work.

May we each meet the challenges in front of us with the correct energy.