We recently connected with Lauren Hays and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’m a mama of three precious little men who turned my pain into purpose by using personal and professional recognition of the void in mental health care for mothers into a career shift. My personal experience with postpartum anxiety sparked the passion deep in my core to make a difference, to use my voice, and to help people avoid the pitfalls I came into and what drove me to pursue a career in mental health. After the birth of my second son, I was completely numb to life happening around me and fixated on the intrusive and catastrophic thoughts that plagued my life for over a year. I have struggled with anxiety in the past, so I thought I was prepared to recognize if I was struggling but this presented differently. I had the support system I always yearned for. Friends and family supporting me. I worked in healthcare alongside other mothers in neonatal intensive care. Truly, I was set up for success with a new baby at home. Yet, it was the darkest and most isolating time of my life. After opening up the conversation about personal mental health struggles, I realized it was common among sisters, best friends, and coworkers struggling in silence in their journey to and through motherhood. Women right alongside me navigating loss, infertility, postpartum mental illness, traumatic deliveries, and more. After healing and finding tools and support for my debilitating struggle with postpartum anxiety, I went to nurse practitioner school and co-founded The Matrescence.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
The Matrescence is a digital support platform (private app) for women, created to educate, empower, and encourage women to and through motherhood. With intimate community support and mental health education, we help mothers navigate the fog and thrive in this joyous (and somewhat tumultuous) season. Each of our offerings comes from a desire to sift through the overwhelming opinions of today’s digital world and curate an intimate and personalized experience for each woman who comes to this space with a promise that all guides and support will come directly from experts. The community platform will serve as a safe space to talk about the hard stuff and to connect with other women walking alongside you through various experiences in motherhood. We encourage you to download our app for mindfulness activities at your fingertips! Or check out our guides and courses to prepare for motherhood! www.thematrescence.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
#1 Facing Criticism and Doubt
One of the first hurdles we encountered was criticism from those closest to us. Launching into the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship, especially in the niche area of maternal mental health, brought skepticism from peers who couldn’t see the vision that was so clear to me—their doubt, although disheartening, only fueled our determination to succeed and make a difference.
#2 Technical Hurdles and Funding Constraints
The road to building The Matrescence® also involved navigating technical challenges and funding restraints. Developing an app that could reliably support and empower mothers required a steep learning curve and significant financial investment. Securing grants was a victory, but each dollar had to be stretched to cover development costs, marketing, and operational expenses.
#3 Redefining ‘Balance’
Perhaps the most personal challenge has been the quest to ‘balance’ motherhood with entrepreneurship. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to throw the concept of balance out the window. Motherhood is all-consuming, a part of our lives that doesn’t neatly compartmentalize. Our professional aspirations and our roles as mothers are not mutually exclusive; they are complementary parts of who we are. Integration allows us to bring our whole selves to both our families and our businesses. Integration means accepting that some days, the scales will tip more heavily towards motherhood, and on others, my entrepreneurial spirit takes the lead. It’s about making peace with the ebb and flow, rather than striving for an unattainable equal balance.
Stay focused, tune out the noise the best you can!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed I stop what I’m doing and focus on calming my nervous system. I do this in a variety of ways depending on the circumstances. If able I go outside and talk a 10 minute walk, being in nature helps ground you. If I’m unable to be outside I focus on deep breathing or butterfly taps which signals to the body “you are not running from a bear, you are safe”. Getting back to the basics of caring for ourselves in this go-go-go world is crucial!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thematrescence.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematrescence/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-matrescence/
- Other: https://www.thematrescence.com/product-category/guides-and-resources/
Image Credits
Hannah DeVries, Portrait Novella
