Embracing the Brilliance of Winter
I love living in an area of the world where I can experience all four seasons. I look forward to the newness of spring, the warmth of the summer sun, and the crispness of autumn. In the past, I have struggled during the winter months. The shorter daylight hours, the cold, the bare brown trees, and lack of color can feel a bit depressing. Once the holidays are over, many people share that they are just trying to “get through” winter, waiting anxiously for spring to arrive again. They start planning spring break vacations as soon as possible to have something to look forward to, ideally in warmer weather. The early onset of darkness in winter can even stir up an immense amount of fear for some people, especially those who have anxiety or seasonal depression. I have experienced these feelings as well. In recent years, I have a whole new perspective on winter. Today, I welcome it with open arms.
Through my Feminine Embodiment training, I have come to deeply appreciate the cycles and seasons of feminine beings and of Mother Earth. It is one thing to read about these things or listen to a lecture, but it is quite another to experience it directly. Before I was fully devoted to embodiment as a practice, I was strictly living in my head. I struggled to make decisions; I felt an immense lack of clarity and had very little self-trust. Going to my mind for all the answers just left me feeling frustrated, which just stirred up more anxiety and stress. The mind is, after all, the sum of its learned experiences, and there is a tremendous amount of hesitation and fear leading the way. If fear, hesitation and logic are in the driver’s seat, then how could I ever get to a place of clarity and confidence? I fought the same battle day after day.
As humans, we have the blessing and the curse of an evolved mind. However, we don’t always use our minds for intellect alone. All too often, we are led by our personal minds, which takes us on a roller coaster ride of past experiences, fears, doubts, and limiting beliefs. Waking up to this and learning to separate from that has become a beautiful awakening and a remembrance of the brilliance of the body and all the wisdom it holds deep inside. I now put effort into deepening the relationship I have with my body’s wisdom by listening more—by becoming available to listen more. This starts with slowing down and connecting with nature as a reminder of the intuitive wisdom that surrounds us every day. This has served as an anchor for me that is always available.
Spending time in nature was a key component to the healing and regulation of my nervous system. I started to pass on my rigorous workout routine to go for a long walk instead, and be intentionally present with nature. While spending time outdoors, I came to appreciate the lack of logic and noticed the instinctual self-trust that the animals, plants, trees, insects, and flowers all follow as their guide. None of them ask another: Is it time to grow? Is it time to gather? Is it time to rest? They don’t need to think about it. They just know because they feel it instinctively. They don’t mull over a decision for days or weeks on end. There is no right way or wrong way in nature. The felt sense and natural instinct are the drivers.
Winter is a seasonal invitation to slow down. To allow and welcome the dormancy of our beings. The calendar year starts out in January with a bang. The cultural message we hear tells us to join a new gym, lose the holiday weight and fast forward into summer planning. This mindset doesn’t allow us to embrace what is actually happening around us, in fact, it forces us to live against nature’s natural current. This force sets us up for disappointment, feelings of failure or guilt, or a sense that we are missing out on something. By cultivating a slower pace, a kinder and softer way of living, we open ourselves up to more clarity, creativity, and connection with ourselves. These “C” qualities are aligned with our true nature. They are who all of us are at our core when we are in flow. In contrast, when we are forcing instead of flowing, we become dysregulated, anxious, and foggy in our thoughts.
After a long holiday break, that first Monday morning back to routine can be a big, audible groan for most people, including children. My 8-year-old daughter was lingering in bed a little longer than time allowed, but rather than lighting the fire of urgency beneath her, I became curious as I noticed the peaceful look on her face. I walked over and saw that she was watching the sunrise. We were both in awe of the beauty of the bright orange and purple hues, keenly aware of how quickly the colors were changing and developing into the early morning sky. Instead of rushing to get breakfast started or forcing the morning along, I sat with her and allowed a sense of wonder and appreciation to wash over us. This set the tone for our morning, as we moved through that first Monday after a two-week holiday break with ease. The funny thing is, even though we spent those extra moments watching the sunrise, we still left for and arrived at school right on time. This time spent with nature didn’t take much effort; it just took intention. I made the conscious decision to slow down with my child, allowing that moment to feel special and organic. In a world where both children and adults feel an immense amount of pressure to go, to do, and to perform at the top of their game, this was a welcome moment to simply be. To appreciate the moment in front of us.
During this winter season, I invite you to explore simple ways to connect a little deeper with yourself, letting nature lead the way. Here is a little inspiration:
Get out into the fresh air daily, when possible
Even on the coldest days, it can be so grounding to get out into the fresh air and just breathe. Whether it’s a short walk on your lunch break or taking your time walking from the store to your car, just be in the presence of the moment and breathe the freshness of the winter air. Notice how it feels as it enters your body through your nose or mouth. Notice how your body takes that chilly air and warms it up for you as it circulates in and around your body. How does it feel against your skin? The flush of your cheeks or nose, the way your bare ears or fingers tingle. Notice the smells in the air: the chimneys smoking, the crispness of the cold, the dampness of the air. Just allow yourself to be here for a few moments before returning to your work or task.
Watch a sunrise or a sunset
Because the winter days are dark and the skies are grey and white, being in the presence of the sun feels like such a gift this time of year. Set the intention to watch a sunrise or a sunset and allow yourself to melt into those fleeting moments of the sun arriving or leaving for the day. Close your eyes and feel the sun on your skin and in your mind’s eye, recall the colors and shapes of the image before you. Listen to the sounds around you. Maybe it’s the birds, maybe it’s the wind, maybe it’s traffic. Whatever it is, just be there for a moment. I relish the moments when I am in the kitchen as the sun is rising and I often open the sliding patio door to step outside for a moment and breathe before the day is fully underway. It may be freezing, but that’s ok. That moment of choosing peace in nature amidst everyday to-dos slows me down.
Do a cleansing or grounding winter ritual
Winter is a time for dormancy, for deep rest and restoration, and for the seeds of our next inner season to be held with warm protection. Have fun exploring what your body is asking of you this season. Maybe it’s a textured blanket draped across you on the couch, or some cozy socks on your feet. With the harsh wind, cold air, and dry heat, I love devoting more time and intention to my skincare routine. Try a simple dry brushing practice before the shower or use a body scrub in a scent like peppermint or bergamot. A deep conditioning hair mask or invigorating scalp scrub is another lovely practice. As simple as it sounds, even foregoing toenail polish for a few weeks or wearing little or no makeup for a few days feels cleansing as well. All of these are a welcoming message to your body to be just as you are, and to devote to self-love and care with more intention. These simple practices create the invitation for more pleasure to enter your life, starting with yourself.
Rest, my friend, rest
I know, I know, I hear you! How can I possibly? There’s so much to do! I know this inner chatter well and I feel you. Hear me out, though. By choosing to rest now, you are creating space for what you deeply desire to come to fruition. If you feel tired and keep pushing through, eventually you burn out. Burn out and overdoing everything has cost me many adult temper tantrums, debilitating back pain and weekly physical therapy sessions for both shoulders, as I was energetically carrying the weight of the world. My body started screaming at me because I wasn’t listening—until I had to.
Try giving your eyes and mind a break from screens by a certain time each night and plan to go to bed earlier than you usually would. Challenge yourself to go without tv, the news, catching up on emails, or scrolling. Start small and try it for one evening just to see how it feels. When you become available to unwind your body and mind from the busy day and invite more slowness, intention, and rest into your world, you will be greatly rewarded. If this feels challenging, just notice that. If your body is wiggly and your mind is active, try some gentle stretching or massage some lotion into your hands and feet. Take your time as you do this and feel your own gentle touch caring for you in this loving way.
Remember that there are no rules. This is simply an exploration into what your body is asking for in this season. You have nothing to lose! Wishing you warmth and wonder this winter.
