Embrace The Possibilities of Your Childless Life

Written By sarah jane smith

“Life isn’t going to look like I wanted it to. I’m not able to have the child that I wanted, but who knows what’s next? And it’s clear I can’t go on like I am. Maybe it’s time to find new possibilities.” – Sarah Jane Smith Lyons

Talking with Andrea Hanson on the Live Your Life, Not Your Diagnosis podcast a few months back was a great pleasure. The episode was released today, and I am pleased to share it with you.

Episode highlights include:

  • Dealing with society’s expectations of how all women should be mothers and how to handle the dreaded question, “So, how many children do you have?”

  • How mental programming and societal expectations can be like muscle memory that needs to be observed and questioned.

  • Recognizing and reframing self-criticism as a habit that no longer serves a purpose.

  • How my approach to Yoga and life can be summed up with one question: What is the functional objective?

  • How can Yoga and self-compassion help women embrace their childless lives.

  • Embracing personal choices and having the courage to start over without apologizing for pursuing a different path.

Featured
Finding Meaning as a Childless Woman
Finding Meaning as a Childless Woman

Due to our pronatalist society, there is an overwhelming message that without children, a woman's life has no purpose or meaning. I don't believe this, but I have felt this. We are unconsciously receiving and believing societal messages all the time. Unpacking, exploring and re-writing unconsciously held beliefs is a big part of integrating grief and opening up to the possibilities of a happy childless life. But where to start?

Nurturing Threads: Maintaining Filaments of Relationship to the Broader World Amid Childless Grief 
Nurturing Threads: Maintaining Filaments of Relationship to the Broader World Amid Childless Grief 

Through a relationship with the natural world, we are reminded of the impermanence of all things and that we are not spared from these cycles. For me, this gives grief a rightful place.

An Apprenticeship With Sorrow
An Apprenticeship With Sorrow

Grief isn't an emotion. It is a core human capacity - if we can turn towards sorrow and engage with it - this deepens our capacity and creates a relationship with grief.

Relationships aren't passive. To be fulfilling, they need regular attention. This relationship is where we pay attention, witness, be, and tend to our grief. With loving care and attention, the grief can soften. This attention allows us to move forward with our experiences and be curious about what is possible.

sarah jane smith
Previous

Living a Childless Life: Acceptance Pt. 1
Next

Creating a Life of Meaning: Unlocking the Potential Beyond Your Childless Identity