I hope you had a great summer – with time to unwind, to play, to refuel.

As the calendar turns from August to September, many of us recall feeling excited about the start of a new school year. (I always looked forward to what could be lying ahead for me, and feel that anticipation each September. My husband, on the other hand, finds himself feeling apprehensive each year at this time.)

No matter what your natural response is to this change of season, making the shift to anything new is worth considering.

New rhythms, new patterns of daily life, and new schedules, even when welcome, always entail adjustments.

How do you want your September to look?

Rather than just clicking to the next week on your calendar and jumping into a more demanding schedule, consider these possibilities:

1. What might you hold onto that made your summer special?

What small thing that you indulged in over the summer can you build into your routine now?

Maybe you’ll create space for quiet daily walks like the ones that allowed you time to simply connect to the smell of the air and take in the sky, without having to rush to be someplace or do something.

You might plan for a morning walk once or twice a week, even if a shorter walk than you savored over the summer.

Or, you can choose another way to enjoy some unscripted, easy time for yourself, maybe in the evening if that will work best, so you are not “on” all day every day.

2. Is there something new you are ready for now?

The start of the new season may be the perfect time to start making a longed-for desire or dream a reality.

That could mean starting to explore possible ways to move ahead.

It might look like reaching out to someone to get their feedback or their take on your idea.

It could mean setting a boundary or two to preserve needed time, as well as space for your attention to be focused on the way forward.

3. Is there something you’ve been tolerating long enough?

Times of transition are excellent prompts to take stock and consider what’s working well and what less-than-desirable situation you may be tolerating.

If something comes to mind that you recognize as a situation or dynamic or relationship you are no longer willing to tolerate, you get to change that.

The change may be easy to make, or might entail thoughtful planning. And it may require help.

The key is to make the decision and take a step forward.

When you keep in mind the outcome that will eliminate the negativity you have been tolerating, it will be easier to find a way to make the change.

Change requires willingness

Whether you want to make space in your life for a piece of what made you feel happy over the summer, or you want to consider moving something from a back burner to the front burner, or you feel it’s time to stop tolerating something so you feel more joy each day, or you have the desire to bring something else new into your life, you will be called to initiate a change — and often a sequence of changes.

The theory, the imagining the vision, is the easy part.

Taking action is not always as easy.

Start by focusing on why the change is meaningful to you. You might do some journaling about it, to make the outcome you envision vivid.

Once you plan a first step to take,

Be willing to take a bold stand for what matters to you.
Be willing to get support.
Be willing to take imperfect action.
Be willing to course-correct and continue when things do not go according to plan.

And be committed to staying the course.

That’s what creators do.

I’m making changes, too.

This fall, I will be making changes that I began contemplating at the start of the summer.

I have been holding a vision and laying the groundwork.

I will share the changes with you next week.

Until then, happy September. I would love to hear about how the start of this new season goes for you, and happy to chat with you about how you want to create meaningful change in your life.

Grab a time for us to talk.

My decision to live in to Paris for a month was a big one, and I am happy to say that my adventure is off to a great start!

And, deciding to undertake something complex and new like this was not so easy. After the idea was sprung, I had to prepare for myriad details. And now that I am here, I’m adjusting to new routines, resources and patterns.

What do you find yourself adjusting to now?

One of my clients just started a new job. It’s with a company she has done work with for a while, but now she’s there full time. She is adjusting to new demands on her time and attention, new deadlines, new dynamics with the team and new challenges.

Another client has recently been showing up in a bigger way in her role as a senior leader. She finds herself adjusting to this new way of being, as well as to the feedback she is getting — all of which is positive.

Because, even when things go well we are called on to adjust to changes.

And when you grow and expand, the first adjustment is to the new version of you!

How to make easier adjustments

Whether you are adjusting to small changes to your routine or bigger changes — that feel exciting or feel challenging — these 5 steps may help you move forward with ease.

1. Build awareness

Pay attention to the change that’s underway. Sometimes this will be obvious (like my temporary move to Paris and the client who started a new job). Sometimes the change will be more subtle.

My client who started to present her ideas in new ways, and also set better boundaries, did not immediately realize that she needed to fucus on how these changes called on her to make new adjustments.

And, sometimes we are in denial about matters that are imposing change or require adjustments.

It is helpful to do some daily check-ins with yourself to identify issues and gain perspective.

You may want to briefly journal at the end of the day and take note of things that came up in your thoughts during the day, or things you can better observe when you reflect back over the way your day unfolded.

2. Focus on the positive

Whether you choose to write in a journal or not, be sure to note positive things that relate to matters that call for adjustment.

It’s second nature for many of us to focus on challenges more than opportunities, and we certainly do need to be aware of challenges and plan for overcoming them.

And, we benefit when we look for the opportunities we have in nearly every situation. Be sure to think about the upside and opportunities that are available when adjusting to any change.

3. Stay clear and calm

What practices support you to think clearly?

You may like to meditate, walk in nature, do yoga, or spend quiet time listening to inspiring music. You may turn to a trusted friend to be a sounding board, or have another way you like to quiet your mind and reduce tension.

Whether you create a daily practice to stay clear and centered, or have a go-to way of getting focused when troubling thoughts start to highjack you, it’s important to know your best ways to get back to clear thinking and feeling calm.

4. Be kind to yourself

Some adjustments tend to spawn self-doubt. It’s easy to slip into feeling concerned about your ability to navigate a matter.

This is a time to practice self-love, and to be compassionate and patient with yourself. Check out this post to learn more about the power of self-love.

And while fear is something that is likely to show up when you are making adjustments, you can learn to turn that limiting emotion around.

Check out this article I wrote on LinkedIn about ditching fear. This blog post on how to think positively may help you, too.

5. Get support

Everyone needs help now and then. Whether you choose to get help to figure out a fulfilling path forward in your life, or you want help to make it easier and faster to make an adjustment you are working through, its great to have support.

After decades of resisting help, I have experienced that seeking out and having support has been life-changing.

The support of great coaches and mentors has been key to me moving through many challenges more easily and quickly than back in the days when I was sure I could do just fine on my own.

And, I might never have made the bolder, truly significant moves in my life that my coaches and mentors helped me see as possible, and helped me to make my reality.

I am here if you want to talk

Whether you want to share an adjustment you are facing now or the future you yearn to create, I invite you to reach out and connect. Or, you can schedule a call with me directly if you wish. I have opened 3 new appointments for these calls.

Our half-hour call (with no cost or obligation) can help you make an adjustment now, and see what is possible in your life in ways you may never have considered.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

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What do you want to hold onto from summer?