What are you ready to start (or stop) now?

Now that the holiday weekend is behind us we are gearing up for a new season.

Memories of the start of a new school year come to mind for most of us. Whether you feel excited (like I tend to feel), or you feel stress (each September my husband recalls the dread of going back to school), this shift from summer to a new season offers us the chance for new starts.

Of course, new starts are always possible.

And, this moment of transition can be a catalyst to consider new possibilities.

I invite you to consider what’s possible for you now.

Set aside a little time for inquiry

Choose a good time of day for personal exploration. Will it be early in the morning? Do you prefer quiet time mid-evening? Is there time on the weekend you want to set aside?

Choose or create an optimal environment, too.

Perhaps there is a cozy corner or a spot outdoors you love. You may want to sit by a window on a rainy day. Settle in with a journal in hand.

Get present. (You may need to ask people to give you some uninterrupted time,)

Don't feel rushed.

Be curious. Ask questions of your heart and listen to the answers that emerge.

Explore some or all of these questions

As you consider each question, make sure to answer it honestly — without regard to what others are doing; not what you are “supposed” to do in the fall; not what is expected at this stage in your career, or any other external “should.”

Start with this significant question:

What are you ready to start?

This is an important question to ask yourself from time to time, and especially at moments of transition like the one we are in.

Maybe you want to start a new habit to enhance your health. Maybe you want to explore new work opportunities. Maybe there's a passion project you’ve been considering that you feel excited to get underway.

After you have recorded some thoughts, see if you can go deeper.

Why is the thing (or things) you noted important? Are you excited to start? Are you nervous? Who can help you? What's a first step you can take?

And if you are game, continue to explore additional questions:

What do you want to stop?

What do you want more of?

What do you want less of?

As you ponder these questions, what other questions show up for you?

Let yourself follow the line of thinking and inquiry that each of your answers inspires.

You may want to do a second round of exploration on another day.

Perhaps you’ll choose to explore these questions with a close friend, or sibling, or a partner.

What action will you initiate now?

Take a break and then look with a fresh eye at what showed up as you explored.

Put a star next to one thing you want to pursue.

If you have already determined a good first step, commit to a time to take that step. Then add a next step to keep moving forward.

And if you have not yet thought about taking specific action, that is your step to take now.

Will you initiate a conversation? Will you reach out to someone for help? Will you research possibilities? Will you make a request, or send a proposal?

While gaining insight is crucial, we need to take action to affect change.

When the change is deeply meaningful to you, even if starting to take action feels daunting. Commit to taking small consistent steps. Those small steps really add up!

Email me and share what you want to start or stop now. Tell me what you want more of, or less of, in your life. I’d love to hear.