Well, it's official. Today marks the first day of fall.
For some of us, fall is our favorite season. It brings the promise of things to look forward to like apple picking, Halloween, and pumpkin spice lattes.
For some of us though, transitioning out of the summer and into the fall can be difficult. Fall means the holidays are right around the corner and it also means it's time to get some of the things we've been delaying done before the year is over.
We feel the clock counting down and panic ensues. We yearn for balance, calm and certainty and pray that the end of this year will be the smoothest we've experienced yet.
We hope this will be the year we get our to-do list done ahead of time, the one where we do not stress over the holiday season and the one where we enter a new year with grace and ease.
We vow to create balance, to continue working on our goals and not get off track. We hope for the time to do it all while still doing what most fills our souls.
But the thing is our day to day lives don't always allow us the time for balance and pursuing our passions.
After all, there are responsibilities to tend to, hayrides to be had, jack-o-lanterns to be made, turkeys to be carved, shopping to be done, gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, and so naturally we sometimes feel like we have no time to focus on all the other things we'd like to be doing too.
I've already noticed myself struggling with that balance, and the season is only just beginning!
In an effort to shift that energy, these past couple of weeks I have been practicing mantras to help me focus on the things that matter most--the things that fulfill my spirit, help me maintain a healthy mindset and help me work towards my goals and dreams.
Because I know the more I can maintain that happiness within me, the more productive and happy I will be all around.
I thought I would share these affirmations in the hopes they might inspire you if you find yourself struggling to focus on keeping your dreams and goals at the forefront.
1. On making time: "I make time for the things that matter most to me."
2. On creating balance: "I easily balance my priorities, my responsibilities and my dreams."
3. On giving ourselves what we need: "I create the space I need to fulfill my dreams."
4. On paying attention to things that keep us off track: "I easily shut out what distracts me."
5. On keeping our dreams front and center: "I focus on my dreams and my dreams are my focus."
Being focused on what will bring us the ultimate wellness and happiness can be a day to day challenge, but it's a challenge that is well worth facing head on because none of us want to start a new year feeling we have lost of our center or our joy in the midst of the holiday mayhem.
The more we recognize when it's time to reset our focus, the more we won't feel so frazzled or like we are zooming through the days like a superhero. When we listen to what we need to maintain balance, and follow through on that calling, we won't burnout--at least not as easily.
Once we reclaim our focus, bit by bit and day by day, things become a little easier to manage. When we keep reminding ourselves of our ultimate goal--how we want to feel and what we want to be doing--it's easier to honor the time we need to rest and recharge.
The truth is, when we feel energized and happy, we are more easily able to enjoy the hectic times that come during this time of year. And when we are happier, the people around us are happier too.
Because it all comes down to this one simple truth:
When we strive to make time for our joy, we will enjoy our lives more.