Honoring all parts of self in seasonal transition

by Nathalie Edmond, Psy.D.

Think about all the experiences you have had that brings you to this moment in time. Some combination of nature and nurture has shaped you who you are and how you navigate the world.  With each new season in our life comes new challenges and opportunities.  Some seasons are about rest and other seasons are about growth or starting over. Which season are you in?
 
I am encouraging mindfulness of what part of yourself you allow to drive the bus in your daily life.  If you tend to be anxious, how can you use skills to manage your anxiety so it informs your decision making but doesn't drive the bus.  If you tend to be insecure, how can that insecurity be a passenger on the bus but not driving the bus. You can observe the thoughts, feelings, images, action urges and proceed through life mindfully.

I encourage you to balance rest and effort.  Respect your nervous system.  Continue to build resilience and adapt to the unexpected surprises that life brings. Cultivate joy and embrace imperfection.

I find this transition from summer to fall stressful.  Moving from the ease of summer to the intensity of fall and a new academic year is intense for me.  No matter how much I resource and plan there is always a week that is challenging.  I continue to work on riding the wave of this transition.

I invite you to think about how you approach these seasonal changes at work, school, and/or home.  Who is driving the bus? Is that who you want to be driving the bus?  For example, knowing you are stressed and having it be a passenger on the bus to inform your decision making  is incredibly helpful but letting your stress or anxiety drive the bus is probably not that helpful.

What might you need to include in your self care plan?  More sleep, more fun, playtime, dance, creativity, focus, exercise, meditation, yoga, knitting, time with friends, downtime....

What supports do you need to navigate the next couple of months of the election news cycle?

If you need some support navigating this season check out our team at Mindful and Multicultural Counseling.