January is a hard month!
(If you love January—if you feel energized, motivated, and content—then do a happy dance and skip this post. Or read it to see how your friends might be feeling.)
First hard thing…
Culturally, you’re told to make resolutions and set goals, both in personal and professional life.
Yet it’s the dead of winter.
Rhythmically, you long to rest, hibernate, and maintain. This isn’t a you problem. It’s an example of how societal messaging is out of sync with our natural world.
Antidote: Target springtime (growth, creativity, energy!) for big changes.
Second hard thing…
November and December—the beginning of winter—are filled with gatherings and holidays. Even if those holidays are complex, there’s scaffolding for your time.
January is a long month (31 days!) and it’s often wide open because you're so exhausted from the holidays. This can feel bleak.
Antidote: Intentionally fill your calendar with nourishing activities. Have lunch with a friend, take a weekend trip, or experiment with an art class.
Third hard thing…
Just like the winter landscape, you’re bare. Your insides are on your outsides. It’s a vulnerable season—in nature and in yourself.
Your edges meet the edges of others. And that’s okay! The vulnerable places are where you learn and grow.
Antidote: Let yourself feel what you feel. Identify a close friend with whom you can share—reach out to them!
Did I miss a hard thing about January? Let me know in the comments below!
However this post finds you, I appreciate you. Thanks for reading. Thanks for breathing and being. Keep on keeping on!
feel what you feel. be as you are.