New Beginnings: 10 Ideas for Welcoming a Changing Season and Embracing Your Dreams
September is here and I’m relishing the seasonal shifts.
They say life’s one constant is change. In a way it’s a comforting thought. Especially when what’s going on in the world hangs heavily day after day. Of course, not all change is welcome, but the possibility of change is an invitation.
I raised this black swallowtail butterfly from a tiny caterpillar; it emerged this week
I love the opportunity for a fresh start. I love dreaming and making plans and starting something new.
Although autumn can be melancholy for me, this year feels different. (At least for now) I feel energized, noticing all the subtle changes.
I’ve been coming home from walks with acorns in my pockets, filling a bowl in my studio with these little treasures.
To be honest, I picked up my first acorn in July. More and more showing up as time went by. I’ve been painting them, too.
Last week I wrote about the energy of back-to-school. It’s a good time to start something new. A good time to dream and plan.
I pulled out my calendar and notebooks this week, ready to figure out the rest of the year, and I realized I never wrote intentions or goals for this year. Back in April I blogged about this, about how I know my goals in my heart. About how my Big Work is at the heart of everything I do:
Create Beauty
Spread Joy
Encourage Others to Embrace Creativity and Joyful Living
Four months later it’s still true, but I’m sitting down to set some intentions and goals within the umbrella of my Big Work. Maybe you’d like to do this, too?
I finished a big project this week, the last of a series of six commissioned paintings (I’ll share more about that soon).
Quin enjoying the sunshine in my windowsill while I paint
With this project wrapped up, I was excited to be able to begin a painting just for me. At the same time undercurrents of negative thoughts swirled beneath the surface. My garden is winding down and I haven’t painted a fraction of the plants I wanted to.
I stopped for a moment to notice the thought. Sometimes that’s all it takes to fend off negativity.
Noticing my thoughts reminded me of a message from one of my students. I’d started a discussion about fear as I was creating a new class. One student questioned her identity as an artist, comparing herself with others and feeling far less prolific than the artists she saw online.
Do you look at what others are doing and feel less?
It’s not easy to feel like you’re lacking. Lacking ideas. Lacking skills. Lacking talent. Lacking time. But we can flip our perspective. We can celebrate our accomplishments. We can be grateful for the present moment.
I pushed the negative thoughts from my head by doing two things:
I wrote a list of all the projects I’ve finished this summer and all the projects I’m currently working on.
I picked up my brush and paints and began the painting that’s been in my head for weeks.
Clara watching me paint (I shared the story of her bravery in my Joy Letter this week)
Our days are full. Our lives are full. We can only do so much. Remember, we can’t do everything.
This new month, this new season, gives us a chance for a fresh start. Are you open to it?
sweet Fiona following me around the garden
Here are 10 ideas to energize you as you move forward into September:
begin a new journal
begin a new sketchbook (maybe even join me on Skillshare)
write a list of recent accomplishments
define your Big Work
write a list of your big (or small) dreams
shift your perspective on fear
spend some time in nature
hunt for acorns
write a Joy List
get your body moving (this Yoga For New Beginnings practice might be a good place to start)
And if you’re dreaming big dreams and struggling with fear, maybe you’d like to join me in my new Skillshare class: Banish Fear and Make a Plan to Pursue Your Creative Dreams.*
This class is special to me. It’s an important topic. I passionately believe the world needs more beauty, creativity, joy, art and love. Each of us has something unique to share. We can’t let fear get in the way.
As always, I’d love to know what’s going on in your world.
What intentions are you setting for this new season? What project are you planning to tackle? What tips do you have for bringing back energy and excitement when you’re feeling down?
*Skillshare is an online learning platform. With a paid membership you have access to tens of thousands of classes on a variety of topics taught by teachers from all over the world. You can try free for one month with no strings attached. Want to know more? I wrote a blog post about it here.