Nourishing Ambitions: Motherhood and Leadership
In this episode of With Both Hands, we explore the emotional shift that comes with the start of a new year, particularly for mothers navigating complex family dynamics, ambition and self-expectation. Beginning with reflections on the emotional weight of the festive season, the conversation captures the contrast between renewal and heaviness that often sits beneath the surface at this time of year.
Expect reflections on setting intentions rather than goals, the symbolism of choosing a guiding word for the year ahead, and the role self-care plays in sustaining both ambition and family life. Through differing perspectives, we examine what it means to lead with authenticity, to nurture ourselves alongside those we care for, and to move into the year ahead with clarity rather than pressure.
The episode also touches on the importance of community, honest conversations about money, and creating spaces where women can explore their aspirations without judgment. This is an invitation to step into the year ahead with intention, self-trust and a deeper sense of alignment.
Transcript
Hello, Hello, Hello.
Speaker A:Welcome back to With Both Hands.
Speaker B:I'm Laura.
Speaker A:And I'm Claire.
Speaker B:And we're two mums who met on the Internet.
Speaker B:How have you been?
Speaker B:I feel like it's been so long since we were last doing this.
Speaker B:I feel really cold and like we need to warm our voices up.
Speaker A:I had a bit of butterflies this morning.
Speaker A:I'm very out of practice for this.
Speaker A:Will warming.
Speaker A:How I been?
Speaker A:Good.
Speaker A:Feeling very January ish.
Speaker A:At the end of last year, I was really like.
Speaker A:Felt like I was just under a pile.
Speaker A:Do you know what I mean?
Speaker A:Like, the end of the year was just like sitting on top of me in a heap.
Speaker A:I really felt the January 1st energy this year.
Speaker A:It was like magic.
Speaker A:Like January 1st, I got up, I went for a run on New Year's Day, which I do every year.
Speaker A:It's like my intention setting to myself.
Speaker A:Like, if I keep that promise to myself on day one, hopefully I'll continue to do so for the rest of the year.
Speaker A:Mixed bag of results, but, you know, that's the intention.
Speaker A:And I really just did feel this huge energy shift.
Speaker A:Like, it was wild.
Speaker A:It was like crawling out of a hibernation hole.
Speaker A:And I was like, okay, let's go.
Speaker B:I love that so much for you.
Speaker A:Is that a shared experience?
Speaker B:I feel like I'm still very much in the hibernation.
Speaker B:I think I'm not quite ready to emerge from whatever it was.
Speaker B:So I always find Christmas pretty heavy.
Speaker B:I think we discussed that on the Christmas episode, and this year is no different.
Speaker B:So I was kind of prepared for that to be quite heavy.
Speaker B:It was, and it was.
Speaker B:But there was also so much magic.
Speaker B:And also there's just a lot when you've got children, the different ages that I have, so you've got teens who don't want to spend any time with the family because they just want to be with all the friends.
Speaker B:And then you've got little kids who just want to still be climbing all over you and read the Mr. Men books a million times and holding that and holding these young people in their emotions.
Speaker B:And Christmas brings up a lot of emotion for a lot of people, including all my children.
Speaker B:It was a lot, but also beautiful and a part of my life that I think I will always look back on fondly.
Speaker B:Like, these years are golden and I'm just not ready to let that go yet.
Speaker B:So we're in the new year, but I still very much feel like I'm still not quite springy yet, but that it's on its way.
Speaker B:I don't know how to explain it.
Speaker B:I feel like we're still in the tunnel, but I can see the light.
Speaker B:It's a slow burn.
Speaker B:It's not.
Speaker B:There's a lot of opportunity.
Speaker B:I can see the opportunity.
Speaker B:I'm just not ready to go full beans into it yet.
Speaker B:I'm still savoring this.
Speaker B:Quieter.
Speaker B:Everything's still dark.
Speaker B:The nights are still quite dark, although they are beginning to be a bit lighter.
Speaker A:I feel like I've seen so much at the moment.
Speaker A:It feels really divided, you know, I mean, there's like such an onslaught of like, new Year, new me, content as there always is.
Speaker A:But then this year there's also been so much, like, pushback, just being like, guys, it is still getting dark at 4pm like, can we calm down?
Speaker A:Which I think is so valid.
Speaker B: We don't need to rush into: Speaker B:Like, let's not spend spring and summer burn out.
Speaker B:Let's have our energy for them months.
Speaker B:And yeah, if we need to carry on hibernating in January, let's do that.
Speaker A:Yeah, love that.
Speaker A:Speaking of the January energy, we both, I know, always have a practice of setting year a word of intention for the year.
Speaker A:So we thought it would be nice if we shared those as a little intro to the year and talk a little bit about how we're leaning into motherhood and business within the framework of our words of intention.
Speaker A:Laura, tell me about your word.
Speaker B:So my word doesn't make any sense on its own.
Speaker B:It is just a one word.
Speaker B:But if I shared it with you now, you'll be like one Earth.
Speaker B:It has a story, as we've.
Speaker B:As does most of my life.
Speaker B:There's always a story.
Speaker B: of the year thing way back in: Speaker B:So it wasn't that new enemy thing.
Speaker B:It was more how do I want to root my decisions in this year?
Speaker B:And I've had words like surrender, trust, love.
Speaker B:I can't think of all the others, but lots of different words and they all kind of lead into each other.
Speaker B: And: Speaker B:I went through quite a challenging period in my career and my motherhood actually, in that year I realized that the more I pushed, the more resistance I felt.
Speaker B:And actually, if I just surrendered to what was going on, maybe I'd have more enjoyment.
Speaker B:And that definitely, definitely did happen.
Speaker B:And I learned a lot in that year.
Speaker B: f the year for last year, for: Speaker B:And that meant that when I was making big decisions, I was like, what is a playful thing to do?
Speaker B:And can I trust myself to make the playful decision rather than the should decision?
Speaker B:I did that and it took me to Sri Lanka, which led to us playing about with a podcast, which lent to me playing in other areas.
Speaker B:And actually, more and more opportunities have arrived because I've learned to kind of let go of the control and just play and find out.
Speaker B:That's all well and good, but sometimes you do actually have to, like, show up as an adult.
Speaker B: And I feel like: Speaker B: I feel: Speaker B:But also we're here to get some shit done, and there's a lot of shit in the world that needs doing, and I'm here to.
Speaker B:To lead that from the front.
Speaker B: for the year was radiance for: Speaker B:And for me, this isn't like, blow shit up, although I do actually want to do a bit of that.
Speaker B:But it's more leading from the light within.
Speaker B:I'm no longer dimming myself down.
Speaker B:I'm no longer making myself palatable.
Speaker B:I want to lead for my authentic self and turn the brightness up.
Speaker B:And I think by doing that, it invites other people to feel safe in their authenticity, in their power, in their leadership.
Speaker B:And we need more people to feel safe in being themselves so we can actually get through whatever is thrown at us this year.
Speaker B:So, yeah, my word of the year is radiance.
Speaker B:And I'm very nervous, actually, to see where it actually leads me this year because it does feel like a very powerful word for me.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:I think you're right.
Speaker A:It is such a powerful word.
Speaker A:And it feels very big, doesn't it?
Speaker A:It's such a brave thing to step into your own light and show up fully as you are.
Speaker A:And radiance, you know, radiance is a bright light.
Speaker A:That's like a.
Speaker A:There's no shadowy corners to hide in.
Speaker A:That's like full beam spotlight on your full self.
Speaker A:And that is a really.
Speaker A:I think, particularly as women, that's quite a brave and scary way to show up.
Speaker A:But I love that as an intention for you, and I love it as an evolution of play as well.
Speaker A:And surrender, actually.
Speaker A:Surrender.
Speaker A:It has been my.
Speaker A:My word of intention for the year.
Speaker A:But have you ever heard.
Speaker A:Have you ever listened to Brene Brown's podcast?
Speaker A:And in her leadership podcast, she asks every guest, what is the one lesson that the universe keeps bashing you around the head with until you learn it?
Speaker A:And mine is always surrender.
Speaker A:Always, always.
Speaker A:The tighter you grip, the more friction there is.
Speaker A:So I love that leading into play.
Speaker A:Like, you loosen the grip and then you have play.
Speaker A:And opened all these doors and explored all these opportunities, and now it's like, right, okay, time to put my big girl pants back on and let's do this, like, within that framework.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:I love that for you.
Speaker B:That is literally the energy.
Speaker B:That is how it feels.
Speaker B:And I'm just easing out of that playful energy in this hibernation zone.
Speaker B:But I have a lot on in the next few months that is going to really ask a lot of my leadership and make sure that I do what I say I want to do and step in.
Speaker B:I'm actually really excited, and I'm so glad that you're all here to listen to how it all unfolds.
Speaker B:And, yeah, to have this space that we can chat about these big ambitions.
Speaker A:I think that was one of the things we wanted, wasn't it?
Speaker A:We wanted to create a space that was safe for women to show up with these big ambitions because wanting to build a body of work and a business and a legacy in that way, and also wanting to have a family, that in itself is a huge ambition which is difficult to hold and difficult to speak about in certain spaces.
Speaker A:So it feels very fitting that this can be the safe space for that with us as the starting point and.
Speaker B:Then hopefully for other people, too.
Speaker A:That was what we wanted to build, wasn't it?
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:And that is what we will make more strides towards this year.
Speaker B:Please share yours.
Speaker A: So last year for: Speaker A:And, you know, it felt very aligned with the way that I wanted to kind of work and move through the world.
Speaker A:I wanted to.
Speaker A:The transition from one to two kids for me has been a very big process of recognizing my own chaos and understanding that putting systems in place that ease, that chaos does not need to involve a full restructure of my personality.
Speaker A:It can actually just be using tools that can help me to scaffold my floaty brain and my naturally chaotic creative nature.
Speaker A:So that's been quite a big process.
Speaker A:So last year, what I wanted to do was find flow, which to me was finding systems that would create that kind of ease and bring a little bit more of that into my life.
Speaker A:And I think that with a.
Speaker A:From a work perspective, I think That I took steps towards that.
Speaker A:And in motherhood, I think I took steps towards that, but in a different way.
Speaker A:And the thing that I did was that I made that intention without taking into account the context of the fact that I had a one year old.
Speaker A:Because flow with a one year old and a five year old is just very, very difficult to find.
Speaker A:As you know, there's too many roadblocks, there's too many unknowns, there's too much do you know?
Speaker A:I mean, there's too many things being thrown into the path for it to really, really flow.
Speaker A:So this year I wanted to kind of reverse engineer.
Speaker A:So I started at the end of the year, and I journaled around what I wanted that to look like and the version of myself that I saw there and how her days looked and what she was doing and what her priorities were and how she was stepping into her kind of values and alignment and then worked backwards from that to.
Speaker B:Where I was now.
Speaker A:And I ran a hot bath and I put a candle on, and I sat in the bath and I was writing around it.
Speaker A:I was thinking about the areas that I really need to lean into.
Speaker A:And one of those main ones was into my body and taking care of myself.
Speaker A:Because I've been breastfeeding for the last two years, and I was pregnant for 43 weeks before that.
Speaker A:So my body has had a battering, and I can really feel it.
Speaker A:Like, I feel like my strength hasn't properly returned.
Speaker A:Like, I'm going a bit dizzy.
Speaker A:I feel like maybe it just feel.
Speaker A:It feels like I'm just, like, deficient.
Speaker A:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:Like, my bones are tired.
Speaker A:So I was like, okay.
Speaker A:One of the things I really want to do is kind of really lean into prioritizing that and making sure that I make time for that and recognize that that doesn't make me a bad mom.
Speaker A:Like, it's okay for me to sit down and have breakfast or for a run or have a hot bath.
Speaker A:Like, these are things that it's okay to do and prioritize that for myself.
Speaker A:And then that kind of led me to my word, which for this year is nourish, which feels very kind of grounded, I think, for me.
Speaker A:So obviously it started with that grounding in my body and reconnecting with what my body physically needs.
Speaker A:And then also it's the energy that I want to show up with for my kids.
Speaker A:Obviously, that nourishing energy I want to pour and focus everything into, not just, you know, what needs to be done, what has to be done, or what the Expectation is, what should I be doing here?
Speaker A:I'm really trying to let go of that external expectations.
Speaker A:What feels nourishing to us as a family, as individuals?
Speaker A:What feels nourishing?
Speaker A:What's the way that we can really lean into that here and then also in business, what's the nourishing way to step into that?
Speaker A:How can I nourish my business, not just run it, not just work in it?
Speaker A:If it was a plant, how would I tend to it?
Speaker A:How would I help it grow from that nourishing perspective?
Speaker A:Yeah, that's the energy that I'm trying to bring to all those different areas.
Speaker B:I absolutely love this so much.
Speaker B:And it's so you coded.
Speaker B:Just love it.
Speaker B:And I also love the difference in our words and the balance that brings to this conversation.
Speaker B:Like, you are the yin to my yang.
Speaker B:Like, I have all these huge, wild ideas, and you're like, okay, but can we eat first?
Speaker B:Yeah, we've got protein.
Speaker B:Can we, like, make sure we all feel really safe?
Speaker B:And then we'll do that.
Speaker B:That's needed.
Speaker B:Both can be true at exactly the same time.
Speaker B:And, yeah, I think it's so beautiful that we didn't do this, we didn't plan this, that we actually started chatting about this on Instagram and we both realized we both did this.
Speaker B:But the fact that we've both got these words that mean so much to us, but together, like radiance and nourishment together makes both of them stronger.
Speaker B:Does that make sense, like, 100?
Speaker A:Because radiance is the sky, radiance is the light, radiance is the air and nourishes the roots.
Speaker A:And it's the groundedness, and it's the earth and.
Speaker B:And it's the dirt.
Speaker B:Oh, my God.
Speaker B:I'm excited for this year.
Speaker B:I might be ready to get out of hibernation by the end of.
Speaker B:End of the recording.
Speaker B:I'll be like, come get out with me.
Speaker A:Let's get you out.
Speaker B:So how is radiance and nourishment showing up with both hands showing up for our listeners?
Speaker B:What are our intentions for this conversation?
Speaker B:Where are we headed?
Speaker B:What do we want?
Speaker A:So we've got some exciting plans, haven't we?
Speaker A:One of the main things that we really want to do is to obviously carry on having these conversations that people seem to resonate with so strongly, and to continue to show up and create this safe space for us to have these important conversations and to challenge the narratives around women and around motherhood and business, and to have conversations around creativity and storytelling and being A multifaceted human being.
Speaker A:I think one of the main things we want to do this year is we really want to bring more of you into the conversation.
Speaker A:So we really are excited to welcome our first guest speakers, bring some more viewpoints into the conversation through the course of the year.
Speaker A:And also we really want to hear from you and we want to really start to build out the community around with both hands because we have conversations in our DMs all the time.
Speaker A:We get messages from people and there's so much engagement with these discussion topics and there's a thirst, I think, for a community around this space and the things that we talk about and women who don't feel seen and don't feel heard.
Speaker A:We really want to lean into the community aspect this year and find lots of fun ways for us to invite more people into this space.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:And I cannot wait.
Speaker B:I am such an in real life girl that dips her toes in online.
Speaker B:Like obviously we, a lot of us spend a lot of time online, but I come alive in real life and spending more time with people connecting over big topics and deep conversations are definitely something we want to invite in for this community.
Speaker B:I selfishly also really want to invite some more conversation around money, which Claire will hate.
Speaker B:I just don't feel like women talk about that enough.
Speaker B:And the fact that we're all in business is because we're here to make money.
Speaker B:Like that is kind of what business is.
Speaker B:And we kind of are forever doing this awkward shuffle around.
Speaker B:Oh well, can't quite say it out loud.
Speaker B:So we're just gonna, well, I'm in business or I do this thing rather than actually I do this because I want to make money to be able to provide for my family.
Speaker B:And actually I want to make more money or whatever that might.
Speaker B:So I want to invite a bit more money chat.
Speaker B:At some point in this year, we might run a full series on money, maybe.
Speaker B:I definitely want some really interesting guests.
Speaker B:Like, that's my dream.
Speaker B:So if any of you dear listeners know of anyone, you think this is who they need to have a conversation with, please send us a DM and we will get in touch with them and see what interesting people we can get on to develop these conversations.
Speaker B:And good back.
Speaker A:Yeah, bring on some more perspectives.
Speaker A:And yeah, the money conversation is needed.
Speaker A:I fight.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think, I wonder why we find it so difficult still to talk about money.
Speaker B:I haven't done all the research ready for this because this is not a money talk.
Speaker B:However, our grandparents, our grandmas, our grandmothers couldn't get a mortgage without asking for their husband's permission.
Speaker B:Like that was only stopped, I think, 50 years ago.
Speaker B:But I will have to check my facts.
Speaker B:But something along those lines.
Speaker B:It wasn't hundreds of years ago, it's a generation or two ago.
Speaker B:So there's no wonder it still feels a bit taboo.
Speaker B:We're kind of the first generation to be allowed to hold our own money and that is pretty wild.
Speaker B:There is lots of reason why, but that doesn't mean that it can't change and we should be able to start having these conversations out loud.
Speaker B:And I also think there's a bit of culture there as well.
Speaker B:I think British people in particular struggle with this as other cultures maybe not so much.
Speaker A:Yes, yes.
Speaker A:It's very much part of the stiff upper lip thing, isn't it?
Speaker A:I think we can have some really interesting conversations and obviously make use of your expertise because there's going to be lots of people listening who would benefit from it.
Speaker B:I'm so excited, honestly.
Speaker A:It's going to be a good year.
Speaker B:For the things we don't know yet, like, we already know quite a few exciting things and some guests that we've got lined up.
Speaker B:But a year is quite a long time and there's always something that happens that you're like, oh, did not see that coming.
Speaker B:That wasn't on the vision board.
Speaker B:And I'm actually really excited for those.
Speaker B: s going to be lots of them in: Speaker B:And it blew us away a lot.
Speaker A:Coming up in a new year.
Speaker B:I don't know how to say there'll be no babies here, though.
Speaker B:No real surprises, only business ones.
Speaker A:Please.
Speaker A:Yeah, just take a beat.
Speaker B: That: Speaker B: And in: Speaker A:No full circle moment there.
Speaker A: was living in New Zealand in: Speaker B:Yeah, amazing.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker A:So we've recapped.
Speaker A:Here we are for season two.
Speaker A:Buckle up and we'll see you very soon.
Speaker B: I'm excited to see where: Speaker A:Me.
Speaker B:Sam.
