A Late-Summer Self-Check for the Soul
There’s a particular kind of beauty in late summer—an orange sky at golden hour, sunflowers leaning into the breeze, long beach days that stretch a little further than they should. It’s a season that whispers of rest but hums with a quiet urgency. A moment to exhale before the harvest. A call to slow down just enough to ask: What needs tending? What needs letting go? What’s next?
This is the threshold. It’s not quite the end of a cycle, but not the beginning either. Somewhere in between clarity and becoming, where reflection meets readiness. The energy right now feels like the 8 of Wands—fast-moving and full of momentum. But only when we clear space to receive it.
Have you stopped to ask yourself lately: Am I where I thought I’d be?
For me, the truth is—I’m actually better than I imagined. I’ve been showing up in ways that feel aligned, sharing my message and my process with vulnerability and realness. I’m not hiding. I’m doing what feels good, and it’s working. What’s shifted along the way is that I’ve had to learn how to stay on myself—to stay present, focused, and tender. Having a tool belt of practices that bring me back to center has been a game changer.
At the beginning of this year, I made a simple vow: Just do the damn thing. And I am. It’s not easy—it’s work—but I love it. I believe in what I’m building, and that belief has brought a deep sense of peace. There’s nothing like creating from a place of alignment, and the tools I’ve cultivated along the way? They work, no matter where you are in your journey. That’s what I want to share most.
There have been unexpected lessons, of course—there always are. But the one that keeps returning is this: Perspective and return to self are everything. Sometimes we chase what we thought we wanted, only to learn it no longer fits. And other times, we arrive at a place we once dreamed of… and realize it’s not the finish line—it’s a beginning.
Putting these blogs together, sharing my story and my work, has become a milestone I never imagined for myself. I never thought I’d be capable of creating like this, much less putting it out into the world. It once felt impossible. And yet—here I am. I believe in me. I believe in you. And I believe we can build something beautiful together.
The most profound thing I’ve realized? Self-validation hits different. The moment you look at yourself and think, “I’m really doing this,” nothing else compares. No outside praise can touch the feeling of knowing you showed up, you followed through, you kept going. That kind of clarity lives inside us all—every day, all the time.
And yet… imposter syndrome still visits. For me, it's almost daily. But the voice is softer now. It gets quieter each time I remind myself why I’m doing this. I know what I’m sharing is real. I know I’m not alone. That knowing has become my anchor.
When doubt shows up, I return inward. I recenter. I light incense and let the scent move me into stillness. I journal. I breathe into my own truth. Aromatics and sensory experiences help me root down into clarity—into motivation, into self-trust. It’s not magic; it’s practice. And it works.
Imposter syndrome, self-doubt… they’re stories. Stories we’ve been told or learned to tell ourselves. But they don’t have to stay. They’re just emotion-based clouds, and emotions are temporary. If what I’m telling myself isn’t rooted in fact, I remind myself I have the power to shift it. And if it is fact, I ask: How can I move forward from here, with love?
On days when I need to reset, my ritual is simple: I burn incense. I sit quietly and let the aromatics carry me wherever I need to go. Sometimes that’s enough. Other times, I open my journal and ask:
- What am I telling myself right now?
- Is it fact or emotion?
- If emotion, how might I soothe it and move through?
- If fact, how can I redirect myself toward where I want to be?
This practice helps me honor both the truth and the tenderness. It holds me accountable, and it sets me free.
Right now, I’m feeling called to share more—to bring as many people with me as want to bask in this light. To open the door wider. To welcome those who are also navigating doubt, dreaming bigger, or trying to return to themselves.
How do I know this is the right path? Because the feeling is undeniable. It’s the kind of alignment that won’t let go. It follows me, pulls at me, fuels me. That’s how I know I’m in flow.
So now, I want to invite you into a moment of reflection too. Just for you. No judgment. Just truth.
Where are you—truly?
What’s changed for you this season?
What are you holding that no longer serves you?
What do you want to move toward next?
Let this be your invitation to pause. To realign. To remember that you’re not alone. Your story matters. Your process is valid. And there’s always room to return to yourself.
Whether you're mid-pivot, in bloom, or still beneath the soil… you are allowed to be here.
“If it’s not rooted in love, it’s not staying.”
(Let that be your anchor as you move forward.)
With Love and Light,
Tammi, Founder and Cultivator of The Bloom Way