Being an entrepreneur is entirely insane at times and overwhelming. Some days, I feel like I am juggling a thousand things, always staring into the future and preparing for that. However, one of the most surprising and powerful teachers in my life, who reminds me continuously to live in this moment, is my daughter, Samaria. Born in 2018, she has been my source of joy, laughter, and most importantly, countless life lessons about slowing down and finding peace right here, right now.

Before becoming a mother, I was always caught up in the race for success, constantly thinking about my next business goal or the next milestone in my entrepreneurial journey. However, after her arrival, my life took a beautiful turn. She unknowingly introduced me to a new way of living—one rooted in mindfulness and present-focused living. I had always heard about the benefits of living in the present moment, but it wasn’t until my daughter became a part of my life that I truly started to understand and experience it.

The Art of Slowing Down

Being a female entrepreneur, my thoughts were habituated to rumination of strategies, meetings, and deadlines. But with a toddler at home, everything is on pause. There is no hurry for a child. Whether it’s taking some time to smell the flowers on a morning walk or to stop and appreciate the beauty of a butterfly, children tend to drench themselves completely in whatever they are doing at that moment. My daughter’s ability to live in the now has taught me how to slow down and be fully present rather than always running to something else.

Her playful giggles, the way she marvels at the smallest things, like the wind rustling through leaves, or her joy at seeing a rainbow, are daily reminders of immense beauty in the ordinary. As I spend time with her, I realize that I have been reaching for the extraordinary in my work, often missing the joy in the moment in my personal life.

Finding Peace Through Mindfulness

The most precious of presents that my daughter has bestowed on me is mindfulness. There are numerous unpredictable challenges in parenting, which demand, tolerance, affection, and serenity. Often, whether it is about handling a distribution tantrum or placidly reading a story at bedtime, she has shown me that every single second can be used to practice the art of being in the moment. I remember that even before her, I had difficulties in staying present in my thoughts, but now, after she came into this world, I understand that the only way to achieve balance in such unsettled external circumstances is through various techniques of staying centered.

There are indeed instances when I am tempted to check my phone or go over the tasks I need to finish later as I spend some time with her, but I have learned to actively rein myself back in the now. It is because of her that I learned what it means to be genuinely present – not only in the sense of being there physically but also in the mental and emotional aspects.

Gratitude for Life’s Little Moments

As parents, we often think we’re the ones teaching our children, but my daughter is the one who continuously teaches me the importance of gratitude. When you’re balancing the challenges of running a business and raising a family, it is easy to get caught up in what’s going wrong or what’s missing. However, my daughter’s appreciation of life has taught me to appreciate the trivial: those small instances of joy that we tend to forget in the face of bigger ambitions.

For example, every time we bake cookies together or go for a family picnic, her excitement and appreciation for those simple activities remind me that joy doesn’t always come from grand achievements. Sometimes, it’s found in the everyday things that we often overlook. Embracing this change in outlook particularly towards gratitude has greatly improved my work and personal life, allowing me to keep more positive thoughts in my mind.

Parenting Teaches Presence

Parenting is a lesson in presence. My daughter’s questions, curiosities, and even her demands have pulled me back into the here and now more times than I can count. She has taught me that the work, meetings, goals, and all else are not the entirety of my existence.

For her, everything is happening all at once — the narration we are going through, the cuddle we are in, the jigsaw we are fixing. I have discovered that simply appreciating such instances in her has not only deepened my relationship with her but also enhanced my way of living and working. It is not only in her that I am able to appreciate the present, but also in business due to her presence. It’s like the better I learned to enjoy the moment, the more productive and concentrated I became as a businesswoman.

Life Lessons from My Daughter

In countless ways, my daughter has educated me more than any school and more than anything else—a fact that I treasure—however, the greatest life lesson is that of living in the present. In this highly paced world and especially the world of entrepreneurship, it is very easy to get carried away with thoughts of the next step. However, through her, I discovered that life is not somewhere around the next corner. Life is living, and life is now.

As a parent myself, I have also learned that children are the best teachers of mindfulness. They do not carry the weight of the past or income the worry about the future enabling them to relish the now. This way of living has motivated me to incorporate more present-focused living into my daily routine. It could be sitting in silence for a few minutes without engaging in any thoughts, or more actively, blocking off time with her to do some play, I have come to appreciate the idea of the present moment being the best moment as the secret to a more fulfilled and contented way of life.

A New Perspective on Parenting

As an entrepreneur, I used to approach parenting with the same mindset I had for business—focused on results and outcomes. But my daughter has shown me that the journey is far more important than the destination. There’s no rush to teach her everything all at once. In fact, she’s the one teaching me. Parenting is not about perfection; it’s about presence. And it’s through these everyday moments that I’ve discovered true peace.

Lessons in Joy and Peace

When I think back, it dawns on me how much I have changed because of my daughter. She, with her pure, unfastened sense of existence, has made my regularly hectic schedule soothing. As I continue to navigate the challenges of being a woman entrepreneur and a mother, I find myself drawing from the life lessons from my toddler—that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to simply stop, breathe, and enjoy where you are right now.

So, if you ask me how to teach my child mindfulness, I will say, they are already the best teachers. In my case, my daughter’s teachings have not only shaped my parenting but also enhanced my outlook on life and business. Thanks to her, I am learning to find peace through mindfulness, gratitude, and the joy of being present.

Here’s to embracing the beauty of now, one precious moment at a time!