As the nights become longer and we hear of the first drops of snow, the time to wrap up, slow down and tune in becomes apparent. If you have ever taken a yoga class, you may have heard the teacher advising to ‘turn inward’ – an instruction which can be a little challenging to understand…
During Summer, we are so caught up in the midst of our busy lives that we don’t make the time to check in with ourselves. Truthfully, we are usually doing pretty well; the warmth of the sun, holidays aplenty and our social calendars bursting. Our cups of self-care are often filled by socialising and expending energy until Winter rolls around, our days become shorter and we fail to remember how to ‘be’.
Being ‘on’ all of the time would throw us out of kilter. Just as the moon wanes and waxes between darkness and light, we, too, have natural rhythms that we should honour to maintain balance and harmony within ourselves.
Winter gives us the perfect opportunity to slow down, shed what no longer serves us and heal from all that has been holding us back. Turning inward simply means allowing for moments of introspection in a bid to understand ourselves better and make a positive change. This doesn’t require sitting in lotus position for months at a time and reaching nirvana; it simply means accepting ourselves where we are at each given moment.
The less time we spend distracted by phones and television, the more we cultivate the self awareness necessary to improve our lives. As humans, we all have parts of ourselves that need some extra lovin’ such as our insecurities or ‘flaws’.
Turning inward and acknowledging our shadow sides is how we embark upon a journey of transformation.
Meditation is the ultimate pathway to the self, but it need not be a challenge; mindful meditation can be achieved by creating more awareness during life’s simple activities, such as walking – feeling the crunch of our footsteps against fallen leaves or listening to the birdsongs which pass us by. It can really be as simple as slowing down, making our space cozy, lighting candles and eating warm, nourishing foods. Reading, writing and pouring more time into our hobbies are all subtle gateways to self exploration.
We may not be able to hibernate or ‘namaste’ Winter away, but we all deserve self-care and, most certainly, self-love.
By injecting more me-time into our routines, we become like the tides; ebbing and flowing through life’s dance, celebrating the beauty of Winter in our own special way. Before we know it, just like the seed that germinates in darkness, our time will come once more to shine under Spring’s sparkling light.
Martha x