Embracing Wintering: Finding Peace in Life's Natural Rhythms
As the calendar flips to another new year, many of us feel an unspoken pressure to launch into resolutions and ambitious goals. However, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves feeling quite the opposite – burnt out and overwhelmed from the year that's just passed.
Today I’d like to introduce you to the idea of "wintering," a concept beautifully explored by Katherine May in her book, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times.
The Pressure of New Year Resolutions
Traditionally, the new year is seen as a time for rejuvenation and new beginnings. Society often nudges us to set lofty goals, embark on new ventures, or dramatically transform our lives. But what if you're just not there yet? What if the remnants of the past year still linger, leaving you more in need of recuperation than a race to the next big thing?
This dissonance between societal expectations and personal readiness can create a sense of inadequacy. It's important to acknowledge that feeling less than enthusiastic about big new year changes is not only okay, it's perfectly normal.
Understanding Wintering
Wintering, as Katherine May explains, is a phase for rest, introspection, and embracing life's natural pauses. It's a time when growth is hidden, not absent. It's about allowing ourselves to be still, to hibernate metaphorically, and nurture our inner selves. In her words, "wintering is a season in the cold. It is a fallow period in life when you're cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress, or cast into the role of an outsider." This concept doesn’t just apply to the winter season, but to any period in life where we need to slow down and rejuvenate.
Applying Wintering to Our Lives
How do we practice wintering in our daily lives? It starts with giving ourselves permission to take a step back. This could mean setting gentler, more nurturing goals, or perhaps not setting any specific goals at all for a while. Embrace activities that are restorative – like reading, meditating, taking leisurely walks, or simply spending quiet time with loved ones. It's about listening to your body and mind, and honoring your need for rest. Remember, just like nature, we too have our cycles of growth and dormancy.
As we embark on this new year, let's shift our perspective. Instead of pushing against the natural current of our lives, let’s embrace the beauty of wintering. It’s in these quieter, introspective periods that we often find the most growth. It's okay to not have all the answers, to not feel ready for big changes. Be kind to yourself, and remember that every season, including the winters of our lives, is essential and valuable in its own right.