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Last month I sent our "The Monthly" newsletter to you (our community 💛) nearly crumbling over being 10 days "late" in my pregnancy. Now, a month later, my little baby girl is officially 4 weeks old. I'm on the other side and I'll never be the same. So much respect to the mama's out there.

Something I've been reflecting on is the feeling of 'failure.' Seems like a weird thing to be thinking about when I just successfully gave birth at home with no complications to a healthy baby girl and am celebrating 6 years of my business, huh?

Inevitably we all feel this at times. Whether it's in small doses like "today I failed to stick to my word of exercising," or larger doses like, "My business isn't where I thought it would be by now." And currently, I'm feeling it in small and large doses regularly. The only thing I'll achieve in a day is feeding the baby 5,000 times while the laundry stacks up, my inbox overflows and I have 5 (hundred) texts to respond to.

But I've been noticing one common thread—the internal negative self talk that builds and grows and feeds and festers until all you feel is an overarching sense of dread about your current self.

Ok ok ok, before you tell me this is some postpartum depression talking—I just can't help but relate this feeling to that luteal phase "who the hell is this in my head" feeling. And something I've noticed is that having AWARENESS about this negative self talk has been so helpful in turning it around.

How easy is it to get stuck in the spiral where everything pisses you off and everything you notice is bad? But when you bring awareness to this behavior it feels hard to stay there, you realize that this version of you—this version who is negative and shaming and looking for more negative to enforce the negative—that's not the version you want to be.

This awareness always feels like the entry way for me to turn it around. It's not perfect and I don't immediately feel positive and happy-go-lucky but it's at least a step in the right direction.

I wanted to share in case you're currently in that luteal (or maybe even postpartum) spiral and needing to bring a little awareness to the negative thoughts that are keeping you stuck.

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Life changing...

After struggling with period symptoms for decades, being tired of not feeling like myself and being diagnosed with PMDD I was desperate for a shift. I was tired of feeling depressed, anxious, like I was living through a glass bottle, and feeling like I was in a constant rage. God bless my sweet husband for riding the wave with me. After seeing Marea ads for months I tried the 3 month starter kit and my life has changed. The two weeks before my period are so much better. I no longer have depression, rage or anxiety. This supplement has given me my life back and I tell everyone about it; passing out the travel packs like a party favor to everyone I meet. Because I think every woman should have the freedom that Marea has given me. I am so so thankful, and after decades of struggling I am finally free!! If anyone struggling with PMDD is on the fence about trying it, commit to the three months and like me, your period will surprise you.

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