Today’s post is a Guest Post by Ashley Lopez of Ashley Spills! Be sure to check her out on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook later!

Hello Leaf and Steel readers! My name is Ashley and my blog is Ashley Spills. I am 27 years old and I am from San Diego, California. I connected with Olivia on WordPress and have been following her blog for a few months now. Though I am not a mother, I find myself attracted to her posts about motherhood because I hope to be one soon(ish).
In my blog, I write about all things self. So, self-awareness, self-love, self-care, self-improvement, self-discipline, and more. I write reflective pieces that at times may seem random, but all of them lead to a deeper connection to self and introspection—something we should all strive for. While I’m unpacking the essentials of me and my life by writing thoughtful think pieces, I encourage my audience to do the same.
I used to float through life unaware and the journey was daunting. Over the past two years, I have come to realize and understand so many things about myself. At times, we live life without taking a second to sit back and reflect on our day because we are so busy. As we get older, we feel as if time is going by so much faster than it was when we were younger. That is not the case. As adults, our lives tend to be a bit more repetitive, so it feels like we are checking things off of a list all the time. Work, check. Dinner, check. Clean, check. Wash my face, check.
Where is the fun in all of that? Well, that’s what I’m on a mission to find. A way to make life feel fulfilled while understanding the small corks that make me me.
Some of my beliefs
I believe reflecting on your day, week, month, and year is a great way to slow down to see what you can improve on and recognize what is working for you. For example, noticing things that give you a positive attitude and make you feel empowered (exercise, self-care activities, reading, hobbies, etc.) are things you should aim to do at least 15 minutes a day.
I also think it’s possible to reach self-discovery by spending time alone; Expressing yourself through art; Finding your triggers that lead to negative behavior; And appreciating what makes you mad, happy, sad, excited, or scared. Acknowledging, doing, and understanding all these things will lead to self-awareness.
Why I think self-awareness is important for motherhood
As mentioned previously, I am not a mother, but I do hope to be one. I long for the feeling of pregnancy, giving birth, and parenting. I want to feel a love that’s so pure, it can’t be broken—or explained. My journey toward self-awareness hasn’t been easy, but I am proud to say I know (mostly) what I like, what I don’t like, what triggers me, and more and the why behind it. I know that motherhood is going to be a whole new world. Everything that comes with it is going to be bizarre and probably weird at first. I also probably won’t know anything about myself at all when I become a mother and I’ll have to start this ride to self-awareness all over again.
Everything I am learning now will most likely be thrown out the window, but that’s okay. I am hoping that I will still have pieces of me and some mental clarity in my life. When I am a mother, I want to know how to take care of myself, mentally and physically, so I can transfer some of my energy to the little human I will be molding.
The more you know about yourself
The more you get to know yourself, the better you’ll be able to handle your reactions, accept what is, and move forward. If you’re interested in unraveling your thoughts and better understanding yourself, check out my blog and we’ll face our truest-selves together. The journey to self-awareness is one you don’t want to miss because every day gives you a chance to learn more about yourself. I promise: You are worth it.
Thanks for reading, xo.
Below are links to my blog, my Facebook page, my Instagram, and my Pinterest:

Thank you Ashley!
If you would like to guest post on Leaf and Steel, head to our Guest Post page!
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O.