Fresh Start Mid April

New Years, birthdays, even Monday mornings all have something in common: The Fresh Start Mindset. According to Dr. Katy Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, we are more likely to do something new when we feel distance from the old. Our old failures, disappointments and imperfections that previously demotivated us seem farther away. Capturing a Fresh Start Mindset can be done anytime! It's about our attitude and approach. We encourage ourselves, "This is the new me and I can do it!"

Designing this website came at a time where there was no obvious "Fresh Start" to harness external motivation. No deadlines or demands beyond my own curiosity and personal challenge. Could I practice (as a human) what I preach (as a therapist)? Can I fully embrace the concept of "Progress not Perfection"? Can I quiet my inner critic and listen to my inner coach tell me "Breath through the process of trying something new."

With rain outside my window, stormy and glitchy internet connections, and a snoring dog at my feet, I felt the motivation Dr. Milkman spoke of. I jumped in to the web design. Let's generate some momentum and move forward, I coached myself! Let's embrace change and do something imperfect yet sufficiently complete. Offering grace and compassion to the old me-the one who might have obsessed over each color, graphic and font choice-I chose a template and fine tuned a template rather than building a site from scratch. As clouds cleared outside my house, pages materialized inside, and a simple website was created. My own internal Fresh Start-born of curiosity and compassion. With practice, we can gently, persistently alter show up for ourselves anytime, anywhere!

May you seek your Fresh Start Mindset with a vibrancy inside yourself even if it is stormy outside! Keep Braving Kindness!