Pathway and Process Reflection - How my project developed since the beginning
After I submitted my LIPD I felt quite clear about my next steps and project goals. I started to plan my pregnancy project in more detail. I researched a lot about various topics and spend a lot of time in a detailed planning phase. It was the first time I tried to design my project from the beginning with a lot of details and action steps. It felt effective and I was convinced that I can implement my plans. Because I am pregnant, it was on the one side very easy to really identify with the topic, but on the other hand I designed too many research tasks. Especially in the beginning it was not easy to find a balance between doing and thinking. I just kept reading and doing theoretical work. Once I recognized that I am on the theoretical track I hardly tried to balance my project in a more practical direction. That was the point when I started different personal practices.
Another turning point of my project was in the middle of September. I was working on this OP and building the Tiny House. My days were full and I had very less time for myself and the baby. When my midwife visited us she recognized that the baby has not turned around yet and instead is in breech presentation. She powerful recommended that I should enter now a full relaxation state, which means no more working on the Tiny House and also not too much effort for my University studies. So I radically changed my daily design and went slower. I did not work on the Tiny House and did not put too much effort in OP production. Instead I tried to do a lot of personal baby bonding practices and meditations.
Project Refletions
What went well?
In the beginning I had an intensive planning phase where I self-foraged a lot about possible pregnancy-topics and made notes of all interesting websites, courses and books. I tried to design my project in more detail and very fast I got clear about my focus. Because the topic personally concerns me I was motivated to inform myself and also implement my learnings. The focus of this project was on a personal level and I feel that I developed a lot of useful routines which will be helpful for birth but also for life.
What was challenging?
In the end it turned out that it is challenging for me to follow my plans. Although my monthly tracking plan very helpful, I adapted it every month to my new ideas. I realized that I had a lot of "research tasks" and not a lot "practical tasks". It was very challenging for me to define more practical tasks and I ended up with defining "personal practical tasks". Another challenging point was to reach my professional goal. In the beginning I felt a lot enthusiasm about developing professionalism in the direction of pregnancy. As I dived more into the topic I realized that I first need to know the basics and experience pregnancy by myself. Especially because of my young age and no other professional background I felt that I first need to familiarize myself with the topic. At times it was challenging for me to design and implement this project, because I had no real extern factors (people, environment) who pushed me and I needed to motivate myself.
What to do differently the next time?
I would try to visit more courses, because I realized that, especially during pregnancy, there are many different point of views and it is very nice to exchange and learn from others.
I also want to try next time to integrate in my planning phase a lot of practical elements.
Project Timeline
Professional Development
The professional goals I set in the beginning of the project were a little to high. My longterm goal is to become a natural health professional for woman and children. With my personal experience, research findings and best practices during this project I gained a first basic impression in a very specific field which will help me in my further development. I feel now that I can give some natural advice to other pregnant woman, which will help them to go through a smooth pregnancy and birth.
On another level I gained skills to write blog articles and design a website. As time continues I hope our website will contribute to my professional development.
Advisor and Mentoring Training
To broaden my professional skills and to contribute in long term to the GaiaU community I decided to participate in the online "Mentoring and Advisor Training" taught and designed by Jennifer English Morgan. The program started in August 2017 and will continue due early November 2017. My long term goal is to become a Main Advisor for Gaia University and maybe coach other people in my real life. This training is the first step for me to step out of my role as being advised and instead learning how to advise or coach.
Tracking of skills
To see how satisfied I am with my skills I build during this project, please view the document: Tracking of skills
Comment on future pathway and next steps
After submitting this OP on October first I will be in Program pause for at least four months. During this time I will give birth to my child and wee need to find ourselves as family. We also plan to move in our Tiny House and find a farm where we can make a living. As soon as I feel that I can start a new project I will dive into the planning phase. I can not say now that I will implement my intended projects I outlined in the LIPD. I am still interested in doing these projects but also open for new possibilities after my baby-pause. I will go with the flow and adapt my new projects to my life situation and the possibilities, also because I don't know yet in which environment we will be living.
Conclusion
In conclusion I want to say that this project was personally enriching and I now feel myself prepared to step into the role of a mother. Because this topic interested me in general and I experienced the same time pregnancy by myself I feel I really was able to take-away a lot of knowledge and experience. I feel encouraged to dive deeper into the topic and then share my knowledge with other pregnant woman. Being pregnant is a wonderful and mystic time in life and a conscious attitude helps to connect on a deeper level to the own body and the baby that is growing in the womb. Through the project I gained a lot background information (reading more books than I normally would read) and I tried to be personally aware of my inner world and all changes that occur in my body. I learned to trust life even more and feel empowered to have a natural, powerful home birth.