I love the word we use for birthing a baby. We describe birth as labor. A labor of love. But it is much more than that. It is often is a labor of discovery, surrender, grief, trauma, healing, life, death, hope, peace, fear. There are so many journeys all existing together in what we call labor. The journey is usually accompanied by seemingly contradictory emotions. Birth is a paradox. How can so much love and fear, pain and pleasure, hurt and healing exist at the same time?
And yet, it can. Birth can be all of it. Some say that the hope is we birth without fear. That we feel no pain. But then what happens when someone is fearful or experiences intense pain during labor? Did they “birth” wrong? The answer is a resounding NO.
“Did I “birth” wrong? The answer is a resounding NO.”
Birth is part of a grander journey. Sometimes we experience intense joy or pain, independent of our internal efforts and desires. We as humans want to have control of everything but it isn’t attainable so we opt for “feeling” in control of everything. But the reality is there is much of our journey that is out of our control. So what can we do? Embrace it. Welcome it. Welcome the unknown and the powerful. That is our birthing strength. We can tap into this powerful force, the force of birth. Of life anew. Birthing both a new life and a new soul. My favorite birth quote is from a good friend of mine. She says, “Into the wild you go, losing your way, finding your soul.”
“Into the wild you go, losing your way, finding your soul.” -Freya Birth
As we embrace our personal path of birth, we can come out on the other side changed. We are meant to grown and change but we must let ourselves embrace the journey. Trust the process. The summit will be better than you imagined, not because of the view, but because of the new you. Embrace they journey. You won’t regret it.
The summit will be better than you imagined, not because of the view, but because of the new you” -Emily Ferguson
