How Understanding Your Values Can Reduce Stress and Increase Clarity for Moms in Austin, TX
Have you ever found yourself asking, Why do I feel like this? Why am I overwhelmed? Why can't I keep up with everything I care about? These questions are common for so many moms—and they matter. At Barton Creek Counseling in Austin, we help moms explore these "why" moments by going beneath the surface, where the real answers live: in your values.
When you learn how to identify and live from your core values, you create clarity, reduce stress, and feel more grounded in the decisions you make every day.
WHY YOU FEEL TORN OR STUCK AS A MOM
Most of us feel frustrated, disconnected, or overloaded not because we don’t care—but because we care so deeply. We value many things, and they often compete:
Connection with our kids vs. personal freedom
Rest and health vs. productivity
Career success vs. quality time at home
When values compete, we often feel stuck, guilty, or unsure. You’re not failing—you’re likely trying to honor more than one thing that matters. The key is learning how to recognize and prioritize what’s most important right now.
WHAT ARE PERSONAL VALUES?
Your values are your personal guiding principles. They're what matter most to you—not what the world tells you should matter. When you connect to your values:
You feel clearer about who you are
You stop chasing perfection and start living with intention
You gain peace, even when life is messy
At Barton Creek Counseling, we define values as the core of your authentic self. They inform your parenting, your relationships, your habits, and even your self-talk.
WHO THIS IS FOR-
This framework is especially powerful for moms who:
Feel scattered or pulled in too many directions
Want to reduce guilt and increase clarity
Are ready to parent and live with purpose
Need help navigating competing demands
Are experiencing parental burnout or emotional exhaustion
If you often think, "I'm failing at everything," chances are your values are clashing—and identifying them is the first step toward relief.
HOW TO UNCOVER YOUR VALUES
You don’t need a personality test or a 5-step workbook to get started. Here’s a quick practice:
1. Look at your day. What moments felt most satisfying, connected, or meaningful?
2. Ask what mattered. Did it reflect love, growth, peace, creativity, or service? That’s a value.
3. Notice your frustrations. What upset you? Chances are, it touched on a value that matters deeply to you—like respect, fairness, or rest.
Example:
“I snapped at my kids today and felt awful.” → You likely value patience, connection, or presence.
“I stayed up late organizing the house.” → You might value order, peace, or preparation.
This is why we say values are always at play. They shape both your satisfaction and your stress.
HOW VALUES REDUCE SELF-JUDGMENT
When you see yourself clearly, you stop attacking yourself. One powerful shift we teach at Barton Creek Counseling is this:
You're not a failure. You're a woman with values.
Every time you get upset, underneath it is something you care about. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with me?", you can ask, "What is this moment telling me about what matters to me?"
This leads to:
More compassion for yourself
Better communication with others
Decisions rooted in meaning, not guilt
HOW TO MODEL VALUES FOR YOUR KIDS
When you live from your values, your children learn how to do the same. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be aligned.
Let your kids see:
That it's okay to say no when something doesn’t match your priorities
That taking care of yourself is an act of love
That mistakes don’t define who we are—our values do
Your values become a compass for your parenting. They help you stay anchored when the chaos swirls around you.
GET BACK TO WHAT MATTERS MOST
If you’re a mom in Austin, TX, and you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or emotionally disconnected, you don’t need to push harder. You need to reconnect with what matters most.
Schedule a session with Barton Creek Counseling today and begin to uncover the values that can bring more peace, clarity, and confidence into your everyday life.