I always love this time of year. There’s something about the change of seasons, the subtle shift in the air quality and light that oozes potential for me.
No doubt on some emotional level I’m identifying with the now decades old ritual of returning to school and Uni. It provokes me to start afresh and feels like a season ripe for new ideas and possibilities.
I have never been one for new year’s resolutions. The ringing in of a new year more often than not left me cold and I think, given we have all been navigating a pandemic for the last couple of years, more recently that’s probably been no bad thing. There has been no false hope that things would be different come the turn of midnight on December 31st.
But I do love to set out my stall anew come September.
It’s when I am reminded of the kind of people I love to work with, I am clearest on the work I want to do in the year ahead, and when I take stock of what changes I might need to make this happen; something that feels even more important than ever after Covid when the temporality and fragility of life has been laid bare in such sharp focus.
So over the last six weeks or so I’ve been preparing the groundwork for this. Given my work is in the space of mental health, resilience and wellbeing that has meant getting my own house in order.
I have been back in the gym, swimming and reconnecting with my love of writing, and reading up on all things new on resilience and wellbeing; all of which fuel my own wellbeing both physically and mentally.
I’ll be honest it’s not been easy.
I’m no paragon of virtue and as someone with her own health challenges there is always tension to manage between doing enough to keep you well but not so much that you overreach. The challenge is as much mental and physical. Yet I know it also puts me in a better place to support those clients who may set themselves unrealistic goals for change. I’m all about the long game rather than the quick fix!
During this time out I have reflected not just on the work I love to do, but also on what happens when I say yes to things for fear of letting others down. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t end well!
And now with September upon us and Autumn tapping gently on its door, my intentions are set and I am excited for the new term and season ahead.
What about you?
Are you clear on what you want to achieve over the next few months? Perhaps you are juggling too much and want to feel happier and healthier than you do now? Or maybe you are rethinking your priorities after a very challenging few years?
How could you make those intentions clearer and who needs to know?
What support might you need to help you achieve your goals?
And what first step could you take right now to get you off the starting blocks?
Whatever your intentions are, make them count.
September, I’m ready for you…
