I sat down this morning in my favorite chair, with blankets and tea, our cats close by, and poised with my favorite notebook, a blue one that reminds me of a crisp sky.
Writing is something I do every day throughout the year, even if it’s just two sentences about something that stood out for me, but I find it’s particularly helpful to do as the seasons change and my focus shifts.
During summer when the sun is shining, I find I’m often writing about what I’d like to see grow and blossom, but as the cool, gray weather settles in and the seasonal encouragement to rest and recharge kicks in, I find that writing in my journal really helps me discover what it is that I want to focus on, what will bring me warmth and comfort in times of melancholy, loneliness or even boredom.
In short: In winter, I write about preserving what is there and finding comfort and joy in that.
Looking at a blank page can feel daunting, I know.
Sitting in silence with nothing but your own mind chattering away can feel overwhelming. You might find it easier if you have a journal that you really like the appearance or feel of, and journaling can certainly be something that you work into your winter routine.
To help you get started, you might find it useful to use some of my winter writing prompts.
Have a look, and see which ones call out to you. Some might spark your curiosity, with a little tingly or bubbly feeling that starts in the belly and rises up. Others might bring up a sense of anxiety or restlessness, and journaling offers a time to sit with those feelings, too, and get more familiar with them.
With practice, exercises like these can start to feel easier, but you might find it helpful to have someone to notice where certain patterns pop up, to encourage you to check in with how something feels in your own body and to help guide you back to your intuition.
If you feel like you'd want to explore (more of) this with me, you can contact me here, or join one of my group events.
resources and reads for understanding the nervous system
journaling into spring
calm your nervous system
Irina emits a healing energy that just feels good to be with. Each time we've met, I've relaxed into her presence, openness, authenticity and ability to offer support. She has helped me gain the perspective I needed to be more compassionate and gentle with myself. If you're ready to do the hard work of personal growth, I'd highly recommend partnering with Irina.