Life Lessons:
Katy Allred
*Are you happy at the moment?
I’m happier than I’ve ever been now that I’ve found my purpose and am taking action on it! I’m passionate about teaching children tools such as meditation and mindfulness to help them combat anxiety, build trust in their inner voice, and be their most authentic selves. I desire to bring this wisdom to the entire family so they can grow together, support each other, and connect more deeply. Pursing this dream while having my own family and a full-time career has been exhausting, but hearing from others how I’m helping them change their lives keeps me going!
*If you could go back and say anything to your 16-year-old self now – what would it be?
Follow your heart and intuition no matter what (but don’t beat yourself up when you don’t, for there are lessons to be learned there too).
*What’s the most important thing you’ve learned this year?
This year I’ve learned that each and every one of us has a unique gift to share with the world. It’s our duty to figure out what that gift is and share it far and wide!
*What do you most want to achieve in the next 12 months?
In the next 12 months, I’ll add a meditation class for teens to my weekly class schedule. I also plan to launch e-courses on mindful parenting and meditation for children to share what I’ve learned with others even when I can’t coach or teach them in person. I desire for mostlymindfulmommy.com to grow exponentially in order to inspire families and equip them with tools to live mindfully and express their authentic selves!
*What’s your secret to happiness?
I let go of my expectations of situations and the behavior of others and simply enjoy each moment exactly as it is.
*What one ritual or practice keeps you grounded?
Meditation! I’m having so many thoughts and ideas all the time I can tend to live a bit (okay, a lot) in my own head. Meditation centers me, quiets my busy mind, and helps me reconnect with my inner wisdom. I also love ballet for achieving a meditative state while in motion!
*What’s your biggest regret?
It sounds like such a stock answer to say I have no regrets, but I can honestly say I know in every cell of my body that everything that’s ever happened in my life has made me the person I am today and brought me here to this very moment. Since I wouldn’t want to be anyone or anywhere else, I regret nothing!
*What’s the most important lesson you’ve taught your kid(s)?
Be yourself, always. When you don’t try to change yourself for the world, the world will be changed by the shining essence of your true self in exactly the way it was meant to be changed! My daughter is only 19 months old, so she still lives in this truth, but I know this could easily change one day if I do not keep focused on imparting this lesson.
*What bad habit would you most like to change about yourself?
I’m always a work in progress. Since I started my business I haven’t had as much time for exercise as I used to, and I’m working on scheduling that in on a more regular basis.
*Aside from motherhood/fatherhood and marriage, what are you most proud of in your life?
I’m most proud of the project I called at the time “unfolding my intimate self”. Through meditation and reflection, I realized how much of myself I was still protecting from others, even though I saw myself as a generally open person. I’m an only child, so I was already naturally protective of my true thoughts and feelings. Add to that childhood sexual abuse, a life-long fear of failure, alcoholism in the family everyone tiptoed around, and an eating disorder in my 20s and you end up with a person who is far too used to keeping secrets, hiding their true feelings, and speaking up when it makes them feel vulnerable. Through focused daily meditation I let go of my fears and began opening up to others and speaking my mind even when it scared me. Then amazing things began to happen! I met my soulmate, I knew immediately I wanted to have children (a matter on which I’d been undecided until the age of 31, and I knew immediately I wanted to marry him (despite being fairly sure up to that point that I wasn’t interested in marriage). It was then that I truly began to bloom and was set on my course to seeking my purpose. I wholeheartedly believe that each time we make the effort to peel away another layer of ourselves and get to our core, amazing things will happen!
*When were you happiest?
I’m happiest when I’m dancing, frolicking, sharing ideas, and helping others. I do my best to remember this so I can spend as many moments of my days engaged in these activities!
*What ten words best describe you?
1. Magical
2. Silly
3. Driven
4. Creative
5. Intelligent
6. Empathetic
7. Courageous
8. Helpful
9. Loving
10. Curious
Katy Delker Allred founded the ^mostly mindful mommy to inspire parents and children to live mindfully and awaken to their true selves. Her intensive study of meditation over the past 8 years informs her work as a wife, mother, speaker, blogger, and workshop facilitator. She offers coaching to parents and families both locally and from anywhere using Skype to assist families in deepening their connections using mindfulness techniques. The birth of her daughter in 2013 ignited a passion for helping children gain the same understandings and tools for growth that she found through her meditation practice but at an earlier age. As a Certified Meditation Facilitator for Children, she holds group meditation classes for children in Colorado Springs, CO where her favorite part is hearing the children share their innate wisdom and guiding them to cultivate it further. Connect with Katy on the ^mostly mindful mommy Facebook page.
