Finding Joy in Summer
Summer is undeniably my favorite season.
In addition to the smell of sunscreen, the feeling of your toes in the sand or the sound of the waves on a shoreline, I think it's that I love how when the temperatures rise, everyone seems to slow down and smile a bit more. In other words, people seem to be present and content with way more ease.
This summer has felt extra special, as it has marked a return to some of the things I missed the most during the height of the pandemic. Some of the highlights thus far include: welcoming some of my best friends from Canada to visit the place I now call home! My first friends who have been able to since I moved just over 3.5 years ago. And friend's wedding in Sicily also facilitated the opportunity to take my first full-on, week-long work-free break in a couple of years. Boy, was it satisfying to close my laptop and not put it into my bag! I am so very grateful for these experiences!
Joyfully showing Canadian Friends one of my fav hikes on Achill Island!
One of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been too on Salina!
Excitedly awaiting our friends wedding to begin!
Joy & Overwhelm
Yet, in conversations with friends and clients, while this summer has marked a return to many of the things we'd convinced ourselves we didn't miss or need, we'd also acknowledge how it has sometimes felt overwhelming. In honest chats, we've discussed how because of the ways we coped with the necessary changes and subsequent challenges of the last two years, we altered our behavior and our comfort zones often more than we knew. We’ve acknowledged how it is possible to feel both joy and overwhelm at the same time.
A personal example of this is that very few of the beautiful friends I have been lucky to meet in the last two years have been inside my home. This habit was established out of necessity for all of our safety. Yet it now feels like there is a weird block and obstacle to overcome, which I hadn't even consciously noticed until chatting with a friend about it. Naming it and acknowledging my intention to move through it has been a big step in letting this fear, which no longer serves to support me go.
There are so many practices that were necessary to prioritize our safety and that of our loved ones and community. Some of these may still be relevant, and important for you, and that is valid. But for others, there might be what feels like a hangover from them.
Change is the Only Constant
One of the most incredible things, and honestly, the only true constant in our lives is change. We are constantly changing, and adapting as the world around us does the same.
This is why I teach my clients to come home to themselves.
What do I mean by this? Meaningfully check in with what they REALLY want, listen to what their gut instincts are trying to tell them, and foster the confidence to ask for this. In short, I teach them to trust themselves!
Remembering that change is the only constant means that we are always growing and learning. As such, what we need, also changes! This is why I do not prescribe '5-step plans' but rather help people identify the practices that work for them. One of the best ways to get at the core of what works for us is to ask ourselves intentional questions, ones that challenge our thinking, possible shift our perspective and ultimately support us to get clear on our needs.
Another personal example is that during the pandemic, I realized I really like and often need some solo time to recharge. I found feelings of guilt and lots of 'you should be enjoying yourself' thoughts coming up when finally in the company of friends I hadn't seen in years. When I stopped to pause and check in with myself, I could identify that a few moments of solo time, whatever they may be, often left me feeling more at ease and able to soak in the goodness of the company and the moments as a whole. Initially, I had a hard time accepting this as it was at odds with how I had known myself to be pre-pandemic.
If any of this has felt true for you, I invite you to consider the following as you move through the big, beautiful moments that summer 2022 hopefully has in store for you xx
Tips to Move Through Summer with Ease:
Meet yourself with Kindness
As I have said, there is no quick fix or one-size fits all solution, but I ask that you meet yourself with kindness. I trust that you have done your best, and judging your past self on the information you have only just learned isn't helpful.
A simple way to check in on this is to ask: "What would I say to someone I love/ my best friend?" I invite you to give yourself the same grace.
Check-in with Your Needs
It can be so easy to get caught in the 'go-go-go', even when it's a fun busy, it can easily lead to feeling overwhelmed, especially if we aren't used to it anymore!
So I invite you to check in with yourself and consider:
How am I feeling right now? How do I want to feel?
What do I need? How can I ask for/prioritize this? (my frequent answers include: space, water, a dance, a swim, food, & meaningful connection!)
Identify and let go when you're adding extra pressure
Yes, if you haven't had a vacation in 3 years, of course, you want it to be brilliant! But many of us tend to try and control things we have no business trying to control (especially when SO MUCH has felt outside of our control the last few years!!) So take a deep break and see if 'that thing' really has to happen, or can you gently let it go.
Try asking yourself these questions:
Am I putting extra pressure on myself? Is there a story I am telling myself about how this is 'supposed' to be? How can I gently let go of this?
Never forget, you deserve to rest, you deserve ease, you deserve joy and laughter! May you have the strength to move through the challenging moments and lean into the goodness of it.
If this post has felt supportive for you, it would mean the world to me if you shared it with a friend or let me know your thoughts!
Want to trust yourself more? Check out my 1 on 1 coaching opportunities or pop me an email, happy to answer any questions you might have and see if coaching is the right fit for you ♡
