Three Questions to Ask Yourself in June
by Margie DuBois, CPC
June 4, 2025
How often do you pause at at the halfway point of the year to reflect on what you need?
And when is the last time you slowed down to memorialize your progress and wins?
June is an ideal month to pause and and go inward as you head into the summer season. It’s an opportunity to get curious about new beginnings and connect with others.
Instead of going through the motions and hoping things will pan out, consider leading with intention and making room for clarity.
Here are three questions to ask yourself this month (with some context for each):
1 - Where can you give yourself more credit?
If you’re an ambitious human who is always on the go, you may not carve out time to celebrate. You might also be hard on yourself when you’re not doing as good of a job as you think you “should.”
But research shows that self-criticism actually holds us back. “The number one barrier to self-compassion is fear of being complacent and losing your edge,” says author and professor, Dr. Kristin Neff. “And all the research shows that’s not true. It’s just the opposite, meaning that self-compassion can lead to greater achievement than self-criticism ever could” (Source).
So - how do you shift this tendency?
Carve out time every week to pause. Spend a few minutes in the morning to jot down small wins and make notes of your progress. Get honest with yourself about where you are selling yourself short. If you find yourself being self-critical, consider one of these practices.
Remember - you are doing much better than you think. If you celebrate your wins, you are more likely to stay energized and sustain your success.
2 - What do you need more vs. less of in your life?
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming - and dare I say boring - setting conventional goals or resolutions.
Consider shaking things up by making a more vs. less list. Get out your journal or a sheet of paper and create two columns. On the left side, write down things you want more of in your life, and on the right side, write down what you want less of.
Things on your lists can capture how you want to spend your time, habits you want to practice (or ditch), or how you want to feel.
For instance, maybe you want more time outside, to listen to more music, or to spend more time with friends who bring you joy.
Maybe you want to spend less time on social media and less time on your phone. Perhaps you want less clutter in your home or to nix time spent gossiping or complaining about others.
Write your list without judgment and then keep it somewhere handy to keep you focused during the week.
3 - How can you show up more intentionally for others?
How well would you say you show up for others?
And I’m not talking about liking Instagram posts or texting a friend to say hi.
I’m talking about following through on plans, sending a condolence card in the mail, or dropping off a crockpot on someone’s front door.
Recently, I shared with The Thirlby Co. coaching community about this topic, after an inspiring interview with a cancer survivor. The newsletter caused quite the stir (in a good way).
If it’s relevant to you, reflect on how you can show up for others in a more consistent and intentional way during the second half of the year. If you aren’t sure where to start, just identify one commitment for June and re-assess at the beginning of each month. You can also try these three tips.
. . .
Imagine you woke up on January 1 of next year, and discovered that this year was your most fulfilling year to date. What did you do to create that result?
What did you prioritize, and how did you spend your time?
Give yourself permission to pause this month so that the second half of 2025 can spark joy and progress, not overwhelm.
About This Feature
Coaching Nuggets is a standing editorial feature in The Thirlby Co. Monthly Digest written by our company founder, Margie (Thirlby) DuBois, and occasional guest authors. Each nugget provides you with a quick read and resources to spark ideas and help you live your best life. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive this feature and more inspiring content in the future.
