Self-Reflection Questions to Ask Yourself as a Women
One of the problems when you have many responsibilities, is that you can lose your individuality. You don't know yourself anymore and see yourself only as a wife, mother, and worker. You've neglected the person you used to be and don't know what you enjoy doing anymore.
This is the sad status of many mothers who forget how to balance parenthood with being an individual. Parents especially can get so caught up in their duties of seeing to everyone else's needs that they forget their own needs.
They lose themselves in their spouse and parent role and then, years later, discover an emptiness inside. Sometimes this can lead to frustration, bitterness, and even depression.
This feeling of emptiness can happen when your children get older or even if they're all in school. Their dependence on you lessens, which frees up more of your mind, and that's when you feel your brain needing some stimulation.
If you look to the past generation of parents, you know, how many of them achieved their dreams? Sadly you will notice not many of them, but those that did lead to more fulfilling lives.
Parenthood is an uphill trudge, but you can find ways to make it less straining and more enjoyable. You don't need to accept that you have to give up who you are and what you enjoy doing as a parent. You don't need to neglect yourself and the things you love. A parent has the same need as everyone else, to have time to be someone with dreams and goals. All it takes is self-reflection, confidence, and to lose the guilt!
Here is my list of suggestions that every person should ask themselves if they don't have a clue what they want to do. Find a quiet moment in your day to think, grab a pencil and notebook, and say a little prayer to God for guidance and inspiration. Read each question carefully and write down your answers honestly.
6 Self-Reflection Questions To Ask Yourself
1. What do I enjoy doing?
This can be anything you love or want to do. A few examples could be; studying a course, picking up another language, cooking a new cuisine, taking up cycling, hiking, painting, gardening, or simply setting a coffee date with a friend once a week.
2. What are my hobbies?
This is anything that you loved to do before you had kids or would love to do in your spare time. A few examples could be; reading books on specific genres, scrapbooking, sewing, bird watching, photography, fitness, illustration, organizing, etc.
3. What goals do I wish to achieve?
This can be anything you want to achieve before you get old. A few examples could be; writing a book, traveling to a new place, furthering your studies, starting a business, getting fit, volunteering at a hospital, studying to become a sonographer, etc.
4. What am I good at?
This should be anything that you are really good at this point in your life. You need to be confident in your abilities when answering this question. You can ask those who are close to you to answer this if you don't know. A few examples could be; creating digital art, making handmade soaps, homeopathy, business acumen, technology, nursing, teaching, writing, etc.
5. What am I able to do right now?
This is one of the most important questions after answering questions 1-4 because it determines what you can start doing now. Depending on how busy you are in your life, pick at least one thing from your list that you can set aside time for.
Next, commit to do it and stick to it for a specified time frame. For example, you start to attend a weekly crafting class, study for one credit in the evenings, pursue a part-time career one day a week, volunteer at a local charity twice a month, start walking in the early morning while everyone is asleep, or start a blog, etc.
Remember, your one thing must not cause you more strain because you're still a busy parent. It should cause you joy, be a form of stress release, and give you a purpose besides parenting. Being a parent and a spouse doesn't need to be your only purpose in life.
6. What are the benefits of doing this?
This should be the premise of your self-reflection because to do anything without a mission is simply time-wasting. You need to analyze what benefit you'll derive from achieving your hobbies or goals. For example, if you study a course, it will increase your knowledge of that topic and, in turn, give you the know-how to teach it to your children.
Another example would be to get a part-time job to pay for something you really want or your children need. Maybe you want to get away from the monotony and boredom of being a stay-at-home mom and keep your mind sharp. Perhaps you want to get fit and lose weight so you can have more energy to play a sport. If your goal has a positive mental and physical benefit, that's the best.
It can be quite challenging to answer these questions about yourself, especially if you have forgotten about your needs for a long time. You will need to dig deep inside yourself to discover what type of person you were before and what kind of person you have become now.
When you are done analyzing yourself, you will have much more self-realization and self-worth. Once you begin achieving your goals or do something you love, you will enjoy your roles even more.
Your responsibilities do not need to consume you and be your only pastime. You do not need to feel guilty for wanting to be more than you are while raising children. And yes, it is possible to have a life while being a parent too.
However, if you want to focus on your parenting, especially if your children are young, enjoy the journey. As long as what you do makes you happy where you are - that's achieving a goal too. Success is about finding fulfillment in your life and in doing what you love with purpose and intention. Reach for your dreams and watch them happen!
Salam, I’m Zakeeya!
I believe that making our homes a safe haven for our families, as well as being a wife and mother, brings us great blessings, contentment, and benefits to society as a whole. Since 2011, I've been dedicated to assisting Muslimas in finding tranquility in their roles, taking better care of themselves, and achieving inner peace. Our journey in this world is not an easy one, but I pray the tools and guidance I offer will help you face life's challenges with more gratitude and mindfulness. Join me as I share wifehood, motherhood, homemaking, and lifestyle solutions that make life more fulfilling for you as a woman! Read more about me here.