A Mindful Mother's Day: Permission to Receive
Mother's Day holds a different meaning for each of us. For some, it's a day of warmth and celebration. For others, it's shadowed by grief, complicated relationships, or the quiet ache of a fertility journey that hasn't yet gone the way you hoped. Wherever you find yourself this weekend, I want to offer you this: an invitation to be intentional, gentle, and truly present with yourself.
I'm fortunate to still have my mom in my life — healthy, resilient, and as full of spirit as ever. But as I've watched her over the decades, I've also witnessed the cost of a lifetime spent putting everyone else first. She grew up in a culture and generation where self-care was considered selfish, and a woman's worth was measured by how much she gave. Those messages don't just disappear. I see echoes of that old programming in myself — in the quiet pressure to be a "good mom," to hold it all together, to need nothing. I'm still doing the work of unlearning it.
Here's what I know to be true: tending to yourself isn't a luxury. It's not something you earn after everyone else is taken care of. It's necessary. This Mother's Day, I hope you give yourself full permission to set healthy boundaries, to ask for what you need, and to truly receive care — from yourself and from the people who love you.
My Favorite Ways to Practice Receiving
1. Meditation & Journaling Starting the day with a guided meditation — breath work woven in, an inspiring intention to hold — followed by a few pages of journaling brings me back to myself every time. Research shows meditation quiets the default mode network (what I lovingly call the "monkey mind"), reducing anxiety and sharpening focus. Even ten minutes can shift your entire morning.
2. Movement That Restores I still love a high-intensity workout — the endorphins are real. But as I've gotten older, I've been drawn more and more to movement that restores rather than depletes: dancing in the kitchen, gentle yoga, after-dinner walks, strength training that leaves me feeling grounded. The goal isn't to push harder. It's to come home to your body.
3. Ask for Help This one still challenges me. I'm a recovering control enthusiast, and releasing perfectionism is ongoing work. But I've learned — truly learned — that I cannot do it all alone. Running a busy practice while raising a family requires delegation, trust, and a team. "Good enough is good enough" isn't giving up. It's wisdom.
4. Regular Nourishing Treatments A few years ago I made myself a promise: one treatment per month, no excuses. Acupuncture, massage, cupping, sound bath, lymphatic drainage, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic care — whatever calls to me. Receiving care consistently reduces stress and inflammation, improves circulation, calms the nervous system, and genuinely fills my cup. I'm proud to say I've kept that promise this year.
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5. Singing (Yes, Really) Before vagal toning was a wellness buzzword, I was in high school choir and church choir — singing just because it felt good. Turns out, it is good for you. Singing, humming, gargling, laughing, and deep diaphragmatic breathing all stimulate the vagus nerve and regulate the nervous system. My favorite version: belting songs at the top of my lungs on road trips with my daughter Chloe. Highly recommend.
6. Rest — Unapologetically In a culture that glorifies busyness, choosing to slow down can feel almost radical. But here's the science: when we regularly shift out of "fight or flight" and into our parasympathetic state — rest and digest — our health begins to transform in meaningful ways.
My Mom with my kids
Why Activating Your Parasympathetic Nervous System Matters
The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is your body's built-in restoration mode. When activated, it:
Reduces stress and supports emotional balance — lowering cortisol, calming anxiety, and building the resilience to recover from hard moments with more grace
Supports cardiovascular health — slowing heart rate, dilating blood vessels, and improving heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker of heart adaptability
Optimizes digestion and metabolism — restoring blood flow to the gut, stimulating digestive enzymes, and supporting nutrient absorption
Strengthens immunity and promotes healing — through the vagus nerve, the PSNS signals the body to reduce inflammation, repair cells, and sink into the deep, restorative sleep where real recovery happens
You don't need a spa day (though you deserve one). You need consistency. Small, intentional moments of rest and restoration, practiced regularly, compound into something transformative.
May this Mother's Day inspire you to take more loving care of yourself. You deserve it — not someday, but now.
Yours in Wellness,Dr. Suzanne Tang & the Inspire Wellness Team
