How to Shift Your Mindset from Surviving to Thriving as a Single Mom
- Tere G
- Jul 16
- 5 min read
Being a single mom can feel overwhelming. You may often struggle with mental fatigue, stress, and the ever-present fear of not being the best parent. Daily tasks pile up, and the pressure to be perfect or have everything together can drain your energy. It’s easy to feel like you are just getting by. However, imagine if you could switch your perspective from merely surviving to truly thriving.
This article aims to help you transform your mindset and embrace your journey as a single mom, celebrating your strengths and acknowledging your potential for growth. Together, we will explore actionable strategies to empower you to recognize that you are enough, and that every little victory counts.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Recognizing your emotions is crucial for change. Whether you face burnout, chronic stress, or doubts about your parenting skills, validating your feelings is the first step toward progress. By understanding where you currently stand, you can better pinpoint where you want to go.
A great way to go about this is to journal. Below is a great journaling prompt to start with.
Journaling Prompt: Write about a day in your life. Highlight the moments that bring you joy and the aspects you wish to change. For example, do you love your child's laughter but feel overwhelmed by household chores?
Embrace the Mindset of "I’m Enough"
Adopting the affirmation "I’m enough" can be a game-changer. This phrase acts as a reminder that you do not have to be perfect. Your truth is what makes you an excellent parent.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, learn to appreciate your unique journey. For instance, if another mom seems to have it all together, remind yourself of your own strengths, such as resilience in tough times or the creativity you show in family activities.
Be mindful that what you see on the outside in someone else's life may not directly reflect the internal challenges that they are perfect. That other mom who seems to have it all together may also think the same of you and you may not even realize it.
Journaling Prompt: List three qualities that make you a great mom. Consider how you can harness these strengths to tackle parenting challenges.
Celebrate Small Wins
In the chaos of daily life, small victories often go unnoticed. Whether it's getting laundry done, making sure everyone's fed, getting your child ready for school, or taking a moment for yourself, every win matters. It’s essential to recognize these achievements as steps towards a thriving mindset.
To make this practice more tangible, create a "win jar" where you can write down your successes on slips of paper. On hard days, read through them to remind yourself of your capabilities. For example, if you helped your child with homework or made a family dinner that you were proud of, jot it down!
As simple as it may be, it's important to remind yourself of the small joys and wins in life. Wins do not have to be a task or chore that was completed. It can be as simple as achieving a mental state or feeling (peace, joy, calm, etc.).
Journaling Prompt: Identify your three most recent wins. Reflect on how you felt after achieving each one.
Discover Your Core Values
Understanding what truly matters to you can guide your decisions as a single mom. Your core values act as a roadmap for your life choices.
You can use a simple worksheet to help identify your core values. For example, if family and health are top priorities, evaluate whether your daily activities reflect those values. This clarity can help you make choices that align with your beliefs, leading to greater fulfillment.
Being aware of what’s important to you, that is...your values, allows you to maintain clear judgement about who you are. When you're confident of who you are, you are able to build on the character that others see in you — the REAL YOU.
Core values and beliefs are critical because it’s how you can learn to understand how you fit in a community or in relationships.
Create a Support Network
Isolation can escalate stress and feelings of self-doubt. Connecting with others who understand your journey can significantly benefit your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Consider joining local or online parenting groups for support. Sharing experiences, fears, and victories can build a sense of community. For instance, you might discover another single mom or two that is willing to meet monthly for coffee, a playdate with the kids, or join an online forum to see how other single moms are thriving.
Journaling Prompt: Reflect on the people you can reach out to for support. Write down their names and how they can assist you.
Prioritize Self-Care
As a busy single mom, self-care often takes a back seat. However, prioritizing your well-being is essential. Even small moments of self-care can recharge your spirit.
Dedicate time to activities that bring you joy, whether it’s reading a book, enjoying a calm walk, or indulging in a warm cup of tea. Establish a self-care routine that you can stick to each week. For instance, you may choose to set aside Sunday evenings for a relaxing bath or a favorite hobby.
Journaling Prompt: Identify your favorite self-care activity. Schedule it into your calendar for the week ahead.
With this in mind, look into our Sacred Stillness Kit — a soft invitation digitally designed to gently bring you back to yourself. This tool was created for sensitive, overwhelmed women who crave a moment of exhale — without booking a retreat, explaining themselves, or spending hours on self-help.
Mindfulness and Gratitude
Incorporating mindfulness into your routine can help alleviate stress and self-doubt. By focusing on the present, you can reduce anxiety about past mistakes and future concerns.
Pair mindfulness with a gratitude practice. Writing down three things you are grateful for each day shifts your perspective. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can increase overall happiness by up to 25%.
Journaling Prompt: List three things you are grateful for today. Consider how these elements can motivate you moving forward.
Commit to Growing and Learning
The journey of a single mom is loaded with opportunities for growth. Understand that learning is continuous, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. Each challenge provides a lesson, making you stronger and wiser.
Invest in personal development opportunities, like listening to audiobooks, podcasts or attending workshops. For example, a parenting seminar could provide new strategies for balancing responsibilities and boosting your coping skills.
Journaling Prompt: Identify one area where you’d like to grow. Outline actionable steps you can take to learn more.
Embracing Your Unique Journey
Shifting your mindset requires time and effort. It does not happen overnight. But it is entirely feasible. By integrating affirmations like "I’m enough," recognizing small achievements, and committing to regular self-care, you can reclaim your strength as a single mom.
Each step you take—no matter how small—counts toward building the fulfilling life you desire. As you start to align with your core values, you will gain clarity and confidence on your journey to thriving.
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