Welcome! Today's guest is Vienda Maria, who is a writer and mentor, currently based in New Zealand. She teaches women who want to do great things in the world, to choose freedom in life and work.
Vienda shares her message and insights through her blog and many magazine articles. Connect with her at www.viendamaria.com
What you'll hear in this episode:
- Vienda made a personal choice to not have children. Motherhood wasn't something she really dreamed about or felt was a top priority.
- A couple of years ago, her mother let her know that her expectation was that Vienda should have children, to bring meaning into her life.
- Her mother was hurt and upset with Vienda's choice, feeling it was a waste.
- This clarifying incident helped cement Vienda's choice and feel empowered about it, even though it was a confronting situation.
- It can be challenging when we have differing views on such emotive topics, from our families and friends.
- These huge life choices can change over the years. As the decades go by in your life, priorities also change.
- Vienda has never felt any social pressure from friends to have children, but feels that society at large seems to expect every single woman to have a child!
- The world is full of archaic thinking around families and what is expected.
- We, as Western women, are privileged to be able to make choices, because so many people in the world don't have that freedom.
- There was a grieving process that Vienda experienced, complete with sadness and tears from letting go of the idea of motherhood—even though she knew it was the right decision.
- Whatever creative expression we choose is where fulfilment comes from. This is an extremely personal choice.
- Vienda's mother chose to have her at age 21 so she could experience love; it's a big responsibility for a child to bear.
- The decision to have/not have a child should be made from a place of wholeness and not from a place of lack or fear.
- People automatically assume that people without children have ZERO other responsibilities and commitments. We need to challenge our limited perspectives and perceptions.
To find out more about Vienda and her work, visit her at viendamaria.com
Thank you so much for listening to this episode. Subscribe for more at michellemariemcgrath.com
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