It’s interesting how the seasons and weather can play an integral role in our moods and overall happiness. Every season is matched with a different set of feelings it seems. Winter is cozy; it invites us to nestle in and hibernate while summer rings nostalgic, calling us to go out and play.

I’m so happy to WELCOME APRIL with open arms today! In real life and on Wit & Delight. This month, our theme is all about New Beginnings. We want to discuss how we’re springing forward, breaking out of our shell, being brave, and most importantly, conquering our fears.

One of my biggest personal goals of this month is to get back into feeling truly like myself. If you are striving to be creative everyday sometimes it can lead to feeling burnt out, I’ve realized. You get into this monotonous daily routine. You become the A.I. robot version of yourself. I also think winter can sometimes do this to a person. You are nestled in, you get used to your homey repetitive nightly rituals. Lather, rinse, repeat. But, like clockwork, April always marks the first turn of spring. And change is always in the air during this time. There is something about the warm weather in general that beckons us to COME ALIVE. It calls us to embrace our primal side. April is just the beginning of everyone coming out of their shell; becoming more extroverted and social. For a moment we remember what it feels like to be a kid, we play more, have more fun and realize that life is fleeting – but in a good way. We are more apt to seize the day and make the most of each moment.

I also think the beginning of each new season is a great time for goal-setting and re-centering with our values. I like to do this quarterly, to make sure my heart is happy and aligned with what I’m currently doing and where I’m going. Spring is the perfect time to take a good look at your fears and ask yourself, How can I conquer you? How are you holding me back? What can I do or strive to accomplish that really scares me but will ultimately push me forward? Or maybe the right question to ask yourself is, Am I too comfortable right now? I’ve found almost all the positive changes in my life have resulted from me being forced into making some kind of major pivot that was unexpected and seemingly brought on by the universe. I like to call these unanticipated pivots blessings in disguise.

It has been proven that one of the best ways to overcome our fears is to write them down. Step 1: write them down. Step 2: prove them wrong. During a recent goal-setting session, I started by making a list that reads: What do I really want in life? Followed by the headers: Why haven’t I gotten there yet? and What are my biggest fears? Sometimes we don’t know our goals or even our fears until we list or say them out loud.

This month we are asking you to write in about what fears (both big and small) you are looking to conquer this season. Write in and tell us how you hope to finally start your own business or leave your corporate job to pursue your passion. Or maybe you are doing some emotional cleaning this spring; you want to finally get the courage to tell someone important how you really feel. What if you are trying to muster the gumption to move across the country to a different city for the first time, apply for a job you feel underqualified for, or finally ask for that raise you most definitely deserve? It could be anything that you really want to do that scares you. At the end of March, I will choose a contributor submission to publish on Wit & Delight. Please send submissions to: stefani@witanddelight.com by April 15 for consideration.

Happy April, friends! And cheers to goal-setting and conquering our fears.

Image via Mansur Gavriel

Stefani Ellenbecker is the Editorial Director at Wit & Delight. When she’s not feverishly editing or writing about style and interiors, she runs her bohemian shop  Arden Trading Co. where she sells artisan-made home goods. She lives in Minneapolis with her fiancé Muhamed.