Heroic Mama

Hi there! I want to share the Four Agreements with you today so you can have more personal freedom. These are from Don Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements . If you have not read the book yet, I am thrilled to share with you this big idea because I firmly believe that adhering to these four agreements could change your life. These are as follows: 1st Agreement: Be impeccable with your words. “The first agreement is the most important one and also the most difficult one to honor. It is so important that with just this first agreement you will be able to transcend to the level of existence I call heaven on earth. The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. It sounds very simple, but it is very, very powerful.” The word impeccable has a root. The word “impeccabilis” originates from the Latin “im-” (not) + peccare (“to err, to sin”). Implies not to sin, literally. When we speak without sin, we speak to ourselves and to others with words that are positive and empowering. We d...

Photo by Chema Photo on Unsplash As new mothers, the journey of welcoming a baby into our lives is both rewarding and transformative. It can be too easy to forget about our well-being as we pour our energy into caring for our newborns. Yet, it is precisely during this time that practicing self-care is very important so we can be the best possible caregivers to our little ones. Our body has gone through many stresses from pregnancy and labor, and it is super important to take care of ourselves after giving birth so we will rebuild our strength, avoid any medical complications, and improve our overall well-being. Here are some self-care habits I practiced as a new mom that helped me recover fast, boosted my energy, and eased postpartum stress, which I highly recommend to other moms. 1. Get plenty of sleep and rest. Sleep is my number 1 self-care habit. With the newborn, getting a good night's sleep is not easy. Whenever I have the opportunity to sleep, I sleep. In Japan, it is a tra...

Koinobori or carp streamers in the park. Photo from the Author. Last Sunday, my family and I went to the local park, expecting a typical day of relaxation. To our surprise, the park was buzzing with activity — the vibrant colors of koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks), music, food stalls, games, and cheerful families filled the space. It was Japan’s annual Children’s Day celebration, a festive occasion that promotes the happiness and uniqueness of children. We might have missed this fun event if we hadn’t gone to the park, Children’s Day, observed on May 5th, is a time to reflect on the joys of childhood and the qualities we hope to foster in our children, such as courage and determination. The koinobori symbolize these traits, inspiring children to grow strong and healthy. As a parent, we can learn a lot from children. They approach the world with fresh eyes, endless curiosity, and a playful spirit. Here are the top three lessons I’ve learned from my one-year-old daughter that remind me ...

Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash Good morning, everyone! As I took my breakfast today, I tuned into an interview with Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl, a leading authority on procrastination. His words hit home: procrastination is a challenge that many of us face, whether we're students, professionals, or parents juggling a busy life.   Everyone procrastinates. It is seen in many cultures worldwide. In the Philippines, there's a term known as the "Mañana habit," which describes the tendency to put off tasks until tomorrow or later. The phrase comes from the Spanish word "mañana," meaning tomorrow. We often delay tasks until non-urgent tasks become urgent, creating a mountain of to-dos that has to be completed in a rush. While some people claim to perform well under pressure, that's not true for most of us, myself included.   Working under pressure can cause significant stress and anxiety, affecting the quality of your work. As a result, you might make more ...

  Hi there! 😀In this article, I would like to share with you a powerful tool I used to install a new habit I learned from the book, Tiny Habits, by B.J. Fogg and I am excited for you to apply it by the time you finish reading this article. Quick context: I cannot remember the countless times I failed to instill a good habit. For example, I know the importance of drinking water for our health, but I just cannot keep myself drinking liters of water every day.  So, last year, I decided to restart to get serious with my hydration because I noticed that my skin and my hair were getting drier and drier every day and that fine wrinkles were getting more visible. And I used B.J. Fogg’s method to install it. Did you know our bodies are mostly made of water? Yeah, about 60%! When you don’t drink enough water, your skin can get dry. Staying hydrated is a daily necessity that helps all body systems to function properly.  The general recommendation for water consumption is 2.7 liters...

  It is not a surprise that our smartphones have become more like companions than just gadgets at this time. But have you ever noticed how easily we get sucked into them? Excessive phone use, such as web browsing, social media scrolling, email checking, online gaming, video watching, and listening to music has become a common habit that can significantly impact our lives. According to Screentime Stats Report data from Rescue Time, the average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone daily. And 1 in 5 smartphone users spends upwards of 4.5 hours on average on their phones every day. On average, people check their phones 58 times per day. And almost 52% of phone checks (30 per day) occur during work hours. That’s almost 23 hours per week lost for an average person. What is your average screen time per day? You can check your screen time data in your phone settings Knowing the optimal amount of screen time for adults can be challenging. Unlike children, there aren’t clear-c...

Cherry blossom season in Japan is a must-see attraction, captivating visitors with its stunning display of pink petals. From Tokyo to Kyoto, the country is transformed into a scenic wonderland during this beautiful time of year. Whether strolling through historic paths or enjoying a picnic under the cherry trees, viewing the cherry blossoms offers a peek into Japan’s natural beauty and cherished traditions. Every year during the cherry blossom season in April, tourists and locals flock to famous scenic spots to witness the beauty of sakura , the Japanese word for cherry trees. However, there are beautiful sights to view the cherries almost everywhere in the country, including local parks such as Horioseki Park in Oguchi town with 1400 sakura trees where my family and I enjoyed a hanami , the traditional Japanese custom of cherry blossom viewing. Paper lanterns at Horioseki Park which will be lit for the night sakura As I admired the simple and elegant beauty of the 1400 sakura trees li...