Hi, and welcome to The Journal. September is the month in which summer gives way to autumn, a season full of development and change. With a lot happening, September required me to establish balance, let go, slow down, and make space for what will come in. In the middle of all this change, I needed to trust and repeatedly reconnect with myself to ensure that I was moving in a direction that was aligned with my heart. I’m looking forward to sharing my learnings and the intentions I have for the coming month. Thank you for being here.
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Emotions hold power and energy, and you can choose where to let it flow. You can project it onto others or use it for yourself. Sometimes, you have to create distance between what you feel and what you choose to do with it. Let yourself separate what you want from what is driven by hurt, triggers, disappointment, fear, or desperation. You need to give yourself time and find your own way of letting the energy move without letting it decide for you. Do not suppress your emotions, but remember that you do not have to act on everything you feel. What is felt may live in the heart, but an emotional decision is not necessarily a decision made from the heart. An important decision based on temporary emotions might not be a good one. May your heart recenter itself and you come home.
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Being present and giving your full attention is an act of love. You may need to step outside of your own perspective to make space for theirs. Let people show you who they are instead of deciding who you think they are. Love can mean putting your own thoughts and feelings aside so someone else has room to express theirs. It involves listening, remembering, reaching out, and loving them, not just focusing on your needs, wants, and desires. Supporting the people you love takes effort, but there is also nothing more beautiful than seeing them thrive and be fulfilled.
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Making time to rest is part of the work. It gives you the space to breathe, slow down, and integrate what you have learned and experienced. Even when work does not feel like work, you still need to take breaks. You can burn out doing what you love, too. When you pour everything you have into something, eventually there will be nothing left to give if you never give yourself the chance to replenish. You may be able to draw more from something when you love it, to give more of yourself because it matters so deeply to you, but that does not mean your resources are infinite. As you work towards the life you desire, don’t forget to be present for the life you’re already living.
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be more curious about everything around me, including people, places, and things. I will stay open, have the interest and courage to ask about things I don’t understand, and listen to what is shared. I believe there is so much we don’t know and can learn from each other and our experiences.
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change the way I think to feel more free, spontaneous, and find more joy in being alive. I want to remember that achievement, productivity, and goals are not everything, and that it is okay to just be present, too. I will give myself permission to be in the moment, have fun, and live more.
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I am so grateful for September. Many would probably not consider this a highlight, but for me, it is, because I do not take it for granted to be able to live. It has been so special to be able to do everyday things without carrying so much worry, heaviness, or struggle. It means so much to have had the time and resources to take care of myself, to connect with the people I love, to reconnect with my own heart, and to choose how I want to live. This is what has meant the most to me. I also loved celebrating my mum’s birthday, and it makes me so happy to see the people I love happy.