Hello, friend!
Did you get a chance to read about this month’s theme yet? While many people will go through orientations this month, we’re focusing on reorientation.
We’re not starting from scratch—we’re coming back to who we are, what’s important to us, and living from that grounded place.
This is a gentle shift; no need for a hard reset on life. We’re still living in the softness of summer, while also making room for the transition to more structure in the coming weeks.
So, let’s start right where we are and embrace a
Soft Reset
“The only way to get what you really want, is to know what you really want. And the only way to know what you really want, is to know yourself. And the only way to know yourself, is to be yourself. And the only way to be yourself is to listen to your heart.”
— Mike Dooley
The summer is more relaxed in many ways, while also busier in others. Vacations are not without their work—the planning, packing, and making sure everything else is covered while we’re away. Having kids at home more can be filled with joy and also chaos. But the opportunities to enjoy the weather, our loved ones, and a more relaxed pace are also readily available. I hope you have been able to enjoy this season in the simplest ways. Don’t stop now—we’ve still got sunshine, warmth, and long days to savor.
Still, as we ease our way into August, we can’t avoid what’s on the horizon—back-to-school, more structure, and activities ramping up in the Fall. We don’t have to do a deep clean of our proverbial house in order to ready ourselves. We can begin with a soft reset—putting things back into place as we account for what’s needed, while also keeping the summer stuff readily available.
Have you ever gotten done with cleaning your house and felt clear, grounded, and ready for what came next, only to look around a few days later and wonder what happened? Life moves quickly, and it’s easy to let things pile up around us (especially if there are other people and/or pets added to the mix).
The same can happen to our inner worlds as we get caught up in the busyness of life and the living of it. It’s natural to get distracted by all we’ve got going on. But, just as our homes need a regular reset, so do our hearts and minds. We can come back to ourselves through regular, simple practices of connection.
Things to keep in mind for a soft reset:
* Mental clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter.
* Consider: What are the obvious time-fillers that distract and overwhelm you?
* Start to think through what the next week or so requires of you. Don’t worry about how it’s all going to get done—simply write it out. You can then pinpoint what actually needs your attention and what can be done later.
* What practices/check-ins/habits can set you up for more ease? (Daily journaling, check-in text with a friend, reading something that inspires and grounds you, a daily walk, no screens for the first hour of your day, meditation, insert: whatever nourishes your inner world.)
As it is with work—especially creative work—a reset begins in the whisps of inspiration, desire, and curiosity. We might not know exactly what we’re going for in the beginning, but it will become clearer as thoughts are given space to simmer.
Any writer will tell you that thinking is a key part of the work. This is true of our inner work, too. Before we make a plan and put it into action, we have to know what the intention—the vision—is that we’re moving toward.
In this soft reset in August, let’s not force something that’s not ready. Instead, let’s foster the space, time, and connection points to gently move toward what’s coming by allowing ourselves to dream, as well as to remember. Let’s declutter the easy targets that keep us distracted so that we can move more fluidly—easefully—in this transition time.
We can bring things back to order by regularly connecting to who we are, what’s important to us, tucking our responsibilities into the mix, and by decluttering around those things.
So, are you ready to begin a soft reset?
Is there something that has gotten lost in the mix of the busyness of the everyday that you want to reclaim/declutter around?
What does a soft reset — the simplest version of getting your priorities back to order — look like for you?
If you’re not sure what you need to reset around, that’s okay! Let the soft reset be allowing yourself to get curious around what you want these areas to look like: family, work, relationships, personal growth.
Give yourself a set amount of time {15 minutes is a great place to start—it’s doable and can fit into a busy schedule} and think through (or brain dump on paper or in a voice memo) stream-of-consciousness style what has gotten lost in the mix that you want to reclaim.
No grand gestures or strict plans of action necessary. Simply reconnect and remember. That’s enough to start.
I’m so glad that you’re here and that we’re in this work together. I love to hear from you! You can reply to this email, message me on Substack, or join the conversation in the comment section ⬇️
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I would be remiss if I didn’t also let you know about the in-person opportunities that are coming up to work/write with me! In a few weeks, I’ll be in WI leading a retreat, and I would love to have you! Find more info and registration links below 👇
