Hello from the land of sweet, juicy yellow corn!
I love Western New York in August, the beginning of harvest season.
The cornfields are tall, green, and abundant, finally yielding their sweet, juicy cobs. Corn is my favorite food and I feel giddy thinking of the abundant, buttery corn that awaits my dinner plate, straight from the farms and rural fields nearby.
Walking through the lush cornfields the other night reminded me of an idea that the wonderful Kristin Panasewicz, EFT Practitioner and founder of Yew Tree Healing, recently explored on her blog. To mark the beginning of Lughnasadh (a Gaelic festival marking the start of the harvest season), Kristin discussed the idea of harvesting vs. composting in our lives.
In her August 1, 2023 missive, Kristin wrote:
“Even though Lughnasadh marks the peak of summer and we’re in the throes of a Life cycle, we are simultaneously preparing for a Death cycle at the Autumn Equinox next month by marshaling our resources now. It’s time to harvest what’s worth keeping and identify what may no longer be working.”
Coaching question of the week:
What is worth:
Harvesting (nurturing what serves you)?
Composting (discarding what’s no longer working)?
Planting (starting fresh)?
The month of August carries a certain nostalgia for me: the days of summer are at their peak, reminding us that an ending awaits and a new season, a new school year, and a new beginning are around the corner.
August is also my birthday month, marking the end of another year of life and the start of a new adventure around the sun (#39 is up next). The nostalgia for what I leave behind and the anticipation of what’s to come inevitably prompts me, year after year, to take stock and conduct what I’ve dubbed a “seasonal inventory”.
Some years, my “inventory” looks like a simple gratitude list. In other years, I’ve brainstormed dreams to pursue over the year ahead. This year, inspired by Kristin’s idea of “harvesting” and “composting”, I inventoried three things across several areas of my life:
What has served me well (the “harvest”)
What must be discarded (the “compost pile”)
What opportunities I can pursue or build on (the “seeds to plant”)
A Seasonal Inventory
Perhaps the dog days of summer have you feeling lethargic, ready for a new (and cooler) beginning. Or maybe you’ve been carrying some worries (or habits) this summer that you’re ready to dispose of. However you’re feeling, right now is a perfect time to conduct your own seasonal inventory.
Here’s how I created mine:
List the areas of your life that matter to you and that have the potential to add to or detract from how you feel on a daily basis. Here are the ones I identified for myself:
Physical Health (body image, nutrition, exercise, sleep)
Mental Health (focus, learning, clarity, attention)
Emotional Health (fulfillment, desires, mood)
Financial Health (income, planning for the future)
Relationships (intimate, with family, friendships)
Work (how you give value and earn a living)
Fun & Enjoyment (hobbies, creative pursuits, travel)
Once I identified the areas that matter most to me (yours might differ from mine), I define them and give them each a score from 1-10 in terms of how satisfied I feel (1= low; 10= high).
For each area (including those with a score of 10), I asked myself three questions inspired by the idea of Harvesting, Composting, and Planting.
Harvest: What has or is serving me well?
Composting: What is no longer serving me or working well?
Plant seeds: What opportunities exist to raise (or maintain, if a ten) my satisfaction levels?
Take time to contemplate and celebrate what served you well and decide to release what must be composted.
Finally, incorporate your “seeds” to plant into your weekly and daily planning. Think about how you will nurture those seeds and help them grow through the tiniest of steps.
Here’s an example of my Seasonal Inventory in one of my key areas:
MENTAL HEALTH (Score: 8)
Defined as: Focus, learning, attention, clarity, growth
Harvest: I’ve been reading more frequently, diversifying my literature (got a subscription to The New Yorker), and taking courses on courage and creativity. I also have cleared every Monday as a day to write, read, and learn.
Compost: My brain feels pulled in many different directions and new project ideas, both personal and work-related. Sometimes, having too many ideas gets in the way of nurturing one of them at a time.
Plant new seeds: Evaluate how much time I’m spending learning vs. doing and up my level of “doing”. Prioritize my ideas according to value and effort. Block one hour a day to nurture those prioritized ideas one at a time.
Your Turn!
What does your seasonal inventory look like?
What areas of life are important for you to evaluate? How do you define those areas?
Drop me a note in the comments and let me know:
What’s one thing you plan to harvest, compost, and/or plant in this season of renewal?
I’d love to know!
P.S. Here are a few ways I can support you as you “harvest”, “compost”, and “plant”:
Open Hours are back! Are you experiencing a work transition (or know someone who has)? I’m bringing Open Hours back for the month of August to support those who are experiencing a transition at work (desired or not). “Open Hours” provide a safe space to share, vent, reflect, and process big changes at work (like a layoff, being fired, or quitting). Join me this Thursday for the first (free) session of the month! Sign up here.
1:1 coaching: What would you like to see grow over the rest of 2023? Let’s identify those big dreams and remove what is standing in the way (hint: it’s usually ourselves, especially our inner “Judge” and saboteurs). Begin by scheduling a 20-minute call with me where I’ll ask you three questions. Book this time here.
Company workshops and speaking: I offer company workshops and conference keynotes on topics related to confidence, team building, equity and inclusion, and negotiation. My latest series is all about navigating change with more joy. I’ve worked with companies like Accenture, Ecolab, HEI Hotels & Resorts, the University of Minnesota, and others. Get in touch to explore how I can help your team.