Paradigm Shift

Hypnobabies has been all about shifting your thinking and changing expectations. This is an excerpt directly from our workbook that I have loved and want to share it with you...

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Shifting the Paradigm of "What if?!"

but Leilah McCracken

We need to shift the paradigm. Instead of thinking "What if ?!" in fearful ways before VBAC birth-- "what if I need to transfer? , what if my pain is so terrible?, what if I have a rupture?, what if my baby can't come down? What if I lose control? What if I haven't practiced enough? What if my partner hasn't read me the scripts enough? What if I get off track during birthing? What if there are complications? and so on...

Why not think "what if?!" in powerful ways--What if I have the most beautiful experience of my life? What if I could actually feel a wet, mewing baby on my belly--just after birth--and fall in love with that feeling forever? What if I give birth and feel pure ecstasy? What will happen in my life if I give birth as a powerful, free woman? What will happen in my life if I claim my right to give birth as my biological destiny impels me to? What if I emerge victorious, free, sentient, powerful? What if? What if my baby never feels anything in his first moments other than my body, and my love? What if I push my baby out into my own hands, and pull him up-- and kiss his wet head- and cry and moan and weep my joy in privacy and love? What if my birth is the most loving, sweet and gentle moment of my life?

What will happen if we stop asking the medical profession to feed us fear about our VBAC birhts? We will finally become as powerful and wise as we are inteded to be. We will finally stop rushing to be rescued, induced and C-sectioned. We will change the way the world spins.

What if...the people reading this think what I'm saying is radical and strange? What if they understand that birth can be the most fantastic catalyst of love in the universe? What if they give the births of their dreams--and feel raw beauty, love and power? What if they go on to teach others the sweetness and beauty of what birth can really be?

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Obviously, this was a passionate article, written by a woman longing to be changed and to offer change to the world...a shift of how you see things. From fearful to strong.

For me, it rings true as the thought of a natural birth has always seemed overwhelming and scary. I used to be one of the laughers and naysayers and here I am preparing to do it.

It translates into other areas of my life as well...where do I need a paradigm shift? 

One situation revealed itself this week. I realize that I tend to assume that people look in on my life and judge me harshly or negatively. Certainly I've had a few rude encounters at the grocery store when it comes to people's comments. Those well meaning folks who just point out the obvious or ask way too many personal questions or look at you like you are the biggest pregnant person they have ever laid eyes on, and it seems easy for me to expect that everyone is thinking similar things. SO, "what if"I thought of it differently? What if people out there are respecting me, thinking highly of me as a woman and a mother, thinking I'm beautiful or strong? The shift goes on and on.

How would you like to have things shifted...?