Where I live (northwestern Massachusetts) we experienced three of our hottest summer days last week.
I’m lucky to be on a hilltop with plenty of sliding doors to let the breeze in, but even so not having air conditioning took its toll, and I was struggling to concentrate on ANY task!
That, of course, drained into feeling ineffective and a bit overwhelmed–especially in the arena of work, where there is a LOT I have to do!
Finally, on the third day, I let myself take a mid-afternoon siesta.
Lying on the couch, I pulled out the work I do at the beginning of every year–visualizing what my life is at the end of that year (I call it my “Snapshot”), identifying 3-5 themes to give my life shape (I call them “Ways of Being”) and creating an action plan (I use an Intention/Attention format) to move myself along.
Reading over all that I had written last January, I realized that 1) I am actually well on my way to accomplishing things, 2) It feels really good to reconnect with what’s important to me about how I want to BE, and 3) Reading my Snapshot is inspiring! I need to do it more often!
So, heat notwithstanding, I got up from my siesta refreshed and reinvigorated to keep going, even though my “wins” for that day were humble. I remembered I can always lead myself, even on the days when my energy is low!
As you contemplate this month, especially in these times that are challenging us in deeply consequential ways, I hope you focus on what’s loving for yourself and meaningful for your life and the lives you care about!
Sourcing deep care and compassion may be challenging as this 2020 moves toward its conclusion, but bringing the best of our humanity forward is going to mean everything in the months ahead!
If you’re not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take the long hard look and just believe that if you’re consistent, you will succeed. -John Lewis
Thank you for all you do, and wishing you a month of meaningful wins!