When the day feels overwhelming and clarity seems out of reach, it’s easy to question your instincts and feel pulled in every direction. In these moments, finding a sense of calm and confidence can feel impossible. But the truth is, you have a quiet wisdom within that can help you navigate even the most chaotic days.
The idea of the “wise mind” comes from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. It's is about finding balance between your emotional and rational minds. It’s not about ignoring your feelings or pushing aside your thoughts, but about honoring both and letting them guide you together. As a parent, you might find yourself doubting or feel lost in a sea of advice and expectations. But your wise mind is always there, ready to help you pause, breathe, and respond in a way that feels true to you and your family. Trusting this inner wisdom means accepting that you are enough, even when things are messy or imperfect.
To connect with your wise mind, try these steps:
You have everything you need within you to meet each day with courage and compassion. Trust that your inner wisdom will guide you, even when things feel uncertain. Take a moment to pause, breathe, and remember: you are enough, just as you are.
Jill Bolte Taylor, an American neuroanatomist, author, and public speaker, reveals how our brains can find clarity:
To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.
from My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
Academic researcher, author, podcaster, and expert on shame and vulnerability, Brené Brown, highlights how clarity can come even in our imperfect, vulnerable moments:
Wholehearted living is about engaging with our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion and connection to wake up in the morning and think, ‘No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough.’ It’s going to bed at night thinking, ‘Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging.
from The Gifts of Imperfection
How might your tap into your wise mind this weekend?
Learn more about responding to stress in the Managing Stress Journey in the Moment for Parents app.