It's either this or start over

Hey Uplifters!

New job, new school, new home, whatever your "new" is, here's a gentle reminder: it's gonna take some adjustment. But here's the good news - you probably have way more influence over how things shake out than you realize.

Let me paint you a picture: My first day with this Apple Watch was like any awkward first date with a shiny new tech gadget. I ordered it with one specific goal in mind. It showed up ready to do a million things for a million different people. Suddenly, all those extras felt like that overeager date who won't stop talking about their stamp collection.

The path of frustration looks something like this: "Ugh, this is annoying. ⏩ Why did I make this choice? ⏩ I'll put up with it being frustrating until I get so fed up that I stick it in a drawer. ⏩ Goodbye, initial benefits I dreamed of! ⏩ Hello, lingering guilt for buying something I didn't really want or need. ⏩ Cue hours of researching a new way to meet that initial need more effectively."

But wait! Plot twist! There's another way this could go!

The path of adaptation looks like this: Notice the stuff that bugs you. Do a little legwork to figure out how to tweak it. Accidentally discover some cool features you never knew you wanted. Put in the upfront energy to set things up your way. Suddenly, you're getting more value than you ever imagined, and you're basically Tony Stark with your new tech (minus the whole superhero gig).

No matter what changes we're going through, learning and tweaking our “new” can feel like just one more thing on our already overflowing plate. But what if we reframe it as an upfront energy investment to create the long-term experience and value we hoped for? It's like meal prepping but for life satisfaction. Who knew?

So, here's your challenge for the week, my fellow adjustment-makers: Pick one "new thing" in your life (could be that route you’re taking to work, that new office space, or maybe it's the “this-outfit-is-gonna-change-my-life look that just didn’t feel quite right when you got it home). Spend 15 minutes – set a timer, folks! – diving into its settings, features, or quirks. Play, explore, get acquainted!

Your mission:

1. Find and tweak one thing that's been low-key bugging you.

2. Discover one cool feature you didn't know existed.

3. Set up that feature to make your life 2% easier (or more fun – we're not picky).

Bonus points if you can rope in a friend, partner, or unsuspecting coworker to be your "did you know?" audience. Nothing solidifies learning like showing it off to someone else, am I right?

Embracing change doesn't mean you have to love every second of it. It's okay to grumble, but what if you channel that grumbling energy into making things work for you? Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with how much you can customize your "new normal" to fit your wonderfully weird self.

Let’s keep rising higher together ✨,

Aransas

P.S. Don't be afraid to hit that "reset to factory settings" button if things go sideways. We've all been there, and hey, sometimes a fresh start is just what the upgrade doctor ordered!

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Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday. You’ll meet Alma Schneider who was nominated by Jackie Wolfe. Here’s her nomination:

I am nominating Alma Schneider; she lives in Montclair, NJ and is a real uplifter! She's very involved in the special needs community: co-founder of 1 in 6 Consulting providing customized solutions for employers who are looking to be more inclusive of their employees who are caregivers to children with disabilities; founder of Montclair's second annual Disability Pride Parade; has a podcast called 2 Moms No Fluff about raising children with disabilities; and founder of the Friday Group, a support group for parents of children with disabilities, that meets every Friday at her home (there's also a  message board where parents can discuss any topic relating to their children). 

Alma is a LCSW, Cooking Coach and founder of Take Back the Kitchen. She's a native New Yorker, singer and founder of Parents Who Rock, a nonprofit that raises money for local nonprofits throughout the community. Oh, and she has four kids, one with a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome. I've known her for about 15 years and she's a force (in the best way!). 

Paid Subscriber Zone

✨ Huge gratitude to all of our paid subscribers! Your support makes all the difference.

✨ As always, all of my writing is free and you can listen to every episode of the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or want to take a deeper dive with our guests and who want to support this work with a paid subscription, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversation with Alison Mariella Désir below.

✨September Subscriber Workshop this Friday! Let’s channel those good old back-to-school vibes for some focused reprioritization. We’re gonna use this as a working session to share ways we’re stuck in our progress, brainstorm new ways to overcome mental, physical, and even technical hurdles, and boost our momentum! You'll gain valuable insights from both your own challenges and those of your peers. You'll:

• Share your sticking points

• Gain fresh perspectives from me and resource experts

• Learn from others' experiences

• Leave feeling focused and energized