Break the Inertia of Winter and Step into Spring.

The sun is out. The days are longer, and the Earth is beginning to warm up.

Many of us stumble into spring-like dazed winter hibernators, waking from a deep sleep. Winter can be hard on people. There are real psychological effects to deal with– from shorter, darker days, to holiday stress, and a higher likelihood of cold-season illnesses.

For me, spring has always been a “power” season– one where I feel newly inspired, when during the rest of the year I may have felt discouraged. Suddenly, after months of feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my winter to-do list, I find that am ready to tackle the harder tasks with ferocity. Within days of the seasonal shift, I am outside pulling up weeds in the garden and nurturing my mind as I go.

However, if you are like me, you can feel frustration and incredulity towards yourself when tackling something that has been long neglected. You know how it goes when your inner dialogue sounds like, “How did you let it get this bad? What were you thinking? What is wrong with you?” This type of self-judgement can be debilitating.

If the burdens of life feel overwhelming, know that you are not alone. Everyone has moments, days, even years that contain weight that feels too heavy to add to. I call these “survival” years (or months)– those times in life when we are just surviving, getting through each day, and find ourselves nowhere near the thriving we aspire to.

Whether your “winter” has literally been the winter months, a depression, or a hard period of time due to life circumstances– know that you can help your mind and encourage a more positive trajectory by managing, and then mastering some of your actions and self-talk.

I would like to state for the record, that sometimes life gets you down. Some chapters of life are just hard. When I talk about “winter”, I also mean the dark times in life, no matter what the actual season. During these difficult times, the way we care for ourselves and speak to ourselves answers to a different call than “spring”.

Coming out of a wintry season of lethargy, illness, and/or depression is different for everyone. But for all of us, positive self-talk and certain actions can be a key to managing the avalanche of guilt, self-loathing, anger, and frustration that can come with a higher presence and more energy in your body and mind. Spring is the perfect time to make this transition into hope and renewal.

Spring is a season of hope, renewal, optimism and beauty.

Tips for re-entry into Spring:

Don’t look back.

There are things to be learned in the future about the road you have just traveled– but for now, just focus your mind on staying on this road, the one taking you away from that season of winter. No dwelling on past actions, (or lack of). Just keep your eyes forward on the rest of your life.

It can be staggering to wake up after a long winter’s absence, but you are here now, and that is where all the power lies. You cannot go back and have it all be different. All you can do is step out with self-acceptance and self-compassion into today, and the next day, and the next.

Examples of Compassionate Self-Talk

• “Eyes forward, I keep my focus on where i am going, not where I have been”
• “That was the past. Start here, now.”
• “Gently.”
• “It’s ok, you’re doing great!”

Do Things That Make You Feel Good

For many of us in times of “survival”, we fill our lives with what I call “space holders”. These are actions and pastimes that distract us from life. Space holders don’t enrich, inspire or really nourish us in any way. They may keep us from spiraling lower, but they are a quick fix that can’t be relied upon for more than passing the time.   .

Space holders can be different for everyone. For me, they are mostly T.V. movies, and certain types of media. I can “disappear” into these things and then “wake up” hours later, feeling exactly as I did when I began. (Except maybe a little worse if I just “wasted” a whole day!)

I believe space holders are very functional tools in dark times; those wintry months when we are just trying to cope, or heaven forbid, not make things worse. Grief, for instance, during times of new and fresh bereavement. I also used this tool during my postpartum baby blues.(have these be  links to blogs about grief & postpartum baby blues) During these times, the goal is to simply not slide backward, or further downward while time works it’s magic and life becomes livable again.

If you are stepping out of the winter months and into springtime, I want to encourage you to do things that actively make you feel good. Use the times you might have inserted a mere space holder in the past todo something that creates a positive feeling inside of you.

The Earth is singing, the dormant plants are waking up, and so are you. What is calling you? Listen. Notice and then do it. It doesn’t have to cost anything. I’m not encouraging irrational or extravagant actions; I’m talking about the little things. The walk you might feel inspired to take, the meal you feel inspired to make, the class that has been whispering to you to take.

Do little things that make you feel good. Does the world look pretty outside your window this morning? Grab your coffee and go outside. That pile of leaves on your patio bugging you? Get it out of there and enjoy the relief of forward movement.

No guilt, just one little joyful moment and dam-burst at a time.  As you replace a few of your space holders with activities that truly fuel you, you will begin to build momentum. With a little momentum built, forward motion will become easier and easier.

Encouraging Self-Talk Tips

Here are some examples of things you can tell yourself to get your momentum and energy moving:

• “Try it! See how you feel!”
• “It’s ok, you’re doing great.”
• “You can do it.”
• “You’ve got this.”
• “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just do it.”
• “I love you no matter what you do or don’t do.”
• “Ahh… doesn’t that feel good?”
• “You did it! I’m so proud of you!”
• “You’re doing it!”
• “You’re okay.”
• “See how you just did that? You did it!”
• “Good job!”

For more tips on building momentum, read my blog post Chickadees, and for tips on searching out the positive, read Violets.

Useful Affirmations for Spring

I’m feeling better every day.

I notice the things that make me feel good and enjoy them more and more.

I am filled with hope.

I notice when I am happy or uplifted.

I dwell in the present.

I let the good things in.

I am learning to love myself.

I love myself.

I matter.

I make time for me.

I am finding my way.

I notice joy.

I dwell in joy.