It's August, my favourite month...

I love August. But something curious happens as July shifts over to August: stores begin to transition their focus, TV ads kick up a storm around back to school, and conversations change from summer starting to the end of days. People often say that August means "the end of the summer." In my conversations, people spring forward quickly, thinking about what's to come: colder weather, fall days, and the leaves turning. At the beginning of the month, I caught myself doing this same type of thinking: future thinking and trying to anticipate the end of the month and what's happening in September. As the nights got shorter and darker, I contemplated the idea that summer was over and soon. I felt emotions like anxiousness and frustration. I didn't want summer to be over just yet; there are still so many things I want to enjoy, things I haven't crossed off my summertime favs list. I was getting caught up in a vicious cycle, anticipating what was to come in the future, and all of this was not allowing me to be present and enjoy what was right in front of me: the beautiful summer days. I needed to pump the brakes. We still have so much time left. It's not over yet. Do you ever find yourself anticipating the end of summer? You aren't alone. The good news is that we can control the reaction by embodying the 3As: Aware, Accept, and Allow. I'm sharing a snippet about each of these without getting too detailed.

Awareness is our ability to pay attention on purpose in the moment. Awareness gives us the opportunity to connect to how we are feeling and notice how our body is reacting. It also gives us time to connect, actively returning to the present moment. Awareness empowers us to enjoy what is, enabling us to disconnect from the need to contemplate what is outside of our control: the future.

Acceptance is one's willingness to come around and see things as they are without judgment. We are still changing, growing, adapting, learning, and developing, but we do all this with a level of understanding and allowance for letting things be as they are in the process or journey. We embrace our mind, body, and spirit, the positive and the negative and everything in between.

Allowance is granting permission and consciously and intentionally creating space and openness to present-moment experiences. We open our minds, hearts, and bodies to the present moment, creating a fuller, more embodied experience.

Below, I will share a few tips on how to build Awareness, Acceptance, and Allowance...

Mindful Practice

Tips for building the 3As

1. Building awareness is similar to building a muscle; it takes time, practice, and commitment to the work. Try this 30-minute awareness-building exercise and see how you feel: https://www.doublejstrategic.com/resources/mindfulness​
2. For the next seven days, notice each day the moments you want to say no to someone, something, etc. Make a note of those moments, and once a day, choose one moment to say yes instead. Notice how it makes you feel. Write down what you notice, what you say, how you react.
3. For one day only, notice your inner critic and judgment. Write down what you say and when you say it. As a second step to the exercise, read out loud what you've written and write the first emotion you feel when you read it next to each statement. Now, choose one statement and read it out loud again. Pause, close your eyes and allow yourself to feel. Connect to your mind, body and heart, each one at a time. Notice what happens. Write down some notes about how you feel, what you think, and what is happening to you. Once you have connected to each part, pause and take three deep breaths.

Mindful Moment

The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice -
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do -
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Monthly Mindful Meditation

This month, I want to share a guided awareness meditation from Tara Brach, a meditation teacher I admire and follow. Listen, practice, and enjoy.

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It gives me great joy to share content with you and discover new ways to connect. Please don't hesitate to reach out at any time: jen@admitone.ca

What's NEW!...

I've launched a YouTube channel, and I am excited to invite all of you to check out what's happening... here is the link to my first video about change fatigue:

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With gratitude,
Jen James
jen@admitone.ca
​https://www.doublejstrategic.com/​

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