September has a reputation. Some call it the season of sharpened pencils, packed schedules, and pumpkin-spiced panic. For many, the “September Scaries” creep in—those nagging whispers that say you’ll never catch up, you’re behind already, or you’re not enough to handle what’s coming.
But here’s the thing: September is only as scary as you let it be.
I’ve lived through things scarier than a full inbox or a messy carpool lane. Eleven years ago last month, I walked out of my last chemotherapy treatment.
And let me tell you, life can knock you flat on your back and dare you not to get up. On that final day, I sat with a –32-degree cap on my head to freeze my scalp and save my hair. Today, I wear very different hats: being a mom, running a practice, speaking across the country, loving my family and partner.
None of those hats were handed to me—they were earned through grit, perspective, and a whole lot of choosing not to stay down.
So, when September whispers, “You’re not enough,” here’s how to answer back:
1. Choose Your Perspective
You don’t always get to choose what happens—but you do get to choose how you see it. When I was exhausted, and wondering if I’d see my kids graduate, I could’ve stayed stuck in misery. Instead, I decided chemo was a speed bump, not a dead end. You can do the same with your challenges. Didn’t get the promotion? Stuck in traffic? You decide whether it ruins the whole day—or just the last five minutes.
2. Spot the Story You’re Telling Yourself
Overwhelm usually isn’t the truth—it’s the story we’re spinning in our heads. September Scaries love to say, “You’re falling behind. You’ll never catch up.” But feelings aren’t facts. When you catch that story, flip the script: “I’m capable. I’ve done hard things before. I can do this too.” It sounds simple, maybe even silly—but rewiring your inner narrator changes everything.
3. Stack Up the Proof that You’re Thriving
Perspective isn’t just downplaying the bad—it’s noticing the good that’s already here. For me, that means pausing between phone calls or podcasts to realize: I’m still here. I get to keep living, keep learning, and (hopefully) keep making a difference. Gratitude for the small wins—paying the bills, laughing with a friend, finishing the day with your sanity intact—reminds you that you’re stronger than you thought.
So, what do you do when the September Scaries sneak up? You choose. You spot the story you’re telling yourself. You stack up the proof that you’re already thriving.
Life will always toss speed bumps in your way—sometimes they’ll look like cancer and sometimes like carpool duty. But either way, you get to decide whether they flatten you or fuel you.
This September, I say you’re more than enough.
Be positively altered,
Dr. Cindy M. Howard
P.S. Still feeling the scaries whispering, “You’re not enough”? Hit play on my latest Positively Altered Podcast—Episode 46: When Life Cracks You Open: Finding Strength in the Breaks. I chat with Sally Magee, a breast cancer survivor-turned-strengths coach, about how a health scare can crack you open in the best way possible. Expect honesty, sharp humor, courage, and a few spreadsheet jokes—because perspective might just sneak up on you when you’re busy laughing. Give that inner whisper a run for its money.