January Blues – Resistance is Futile!

Feeling flat and lethargic?

Why is it every year I think to myself, this January is going to be a good month, I’m raring to go for the year ahead.  By the 1st January I’ve done my vision board, set my intention for the year and feel like this is all that I need to get going. Yet where is my mojo, where is my motivation! I feel flat and lethargic.  It’s a period of time that starts back in November.

I’ve come to the conclusion over many years, to just accept that when November comes, there is a  switch inside of me, that seems to overnight change my outlook on life.  My thoughts change to a more negative outlook, my body becomes contracted and my patience is lessened, things  that normally don’t impact me do.

I believe this to be a natural thing, rather than being some kind of historic anniversary event in my life that triggers this (for some this may be the case), or some circumstance that would be easy to blame.  I put it down to the lack of sunshine, the grey damp days and the lack of colour.  Nature is resting, so why can’t I!

Society has created a whirlwind of activity leading up to the festive season, whereas nature is winding down, we are winding up our stress levels. There are the expectations of Christmas, the build up, then the day itself, then the bit in between Christmas and New Year, then the excitement about waiting for January to arrive, then realising that you have nothing in the tank when January does arrive and nothing changes for a while.  Then as you begin to think this is dragging on forever, incredibly when the third week in January comes, the first sign of life start to emerge, snowdrops appear and the longer days of light suddenly seem to come into our awareness.  Everything slots back into place again and life is brighter, exciting and bigger again.  More importantly energy levels start to rise again.

I have lived overseas in warm and tropical (in the northern hemisphere) climates and to a lesser degree I still feel the same, so I know it’s not just about the location.  I’ve realised it’s about being in sync with nature. Winter is about restoration and rest.  Forcing myself against this natural rhythm of life is when things go wrong, I really lose energy and impetus, it’s pointless to go against the flow.

So, when the switch happens for me and the trigger is, changes in my levels of energy change and state my of mind, I allow myself to quieten down, go for walks when the skies are clear, keep my body moving but not exhausting myself with hard strenuous workouts, stretching and taking time to be quiet, eating nourishing foods of the season and getting a polarity treatment to balance my energy body and mind.  Most people would not notice a difference in me, but I have learned to love this time of year, rather than resist it and go with the flow.   I notice the change in my clients that I see throughout the year and get to see this is a natural state and not to fight it, but accept the energy of winter is just different and warrants respect as well as the other seasons.

This process in life, going through the seasons, is a natural polarity system that operates throughout nature and life.  In winter, energy becomes more contracted, nature goes inwards and it’s a negative quality of energy (and that’s not to be seen as ‘negative) that gives rise to an opportunity to rest and slow down a bit.

In summer it’s the opposite extreme, a much more expansive, positive phase of energy and opportunity to get things done where nature is bursting with life.  Spring and Autumn are natural balancing energies of creation in between the two extremes, Spring is about new life, freshness and preparation us for the Summer and Autumn is the letting go, calming down, preparing us for Winter phase.   We are all different and this is how I feel but how do you flow with the rhythms of nature? How do allow yourself to adjust to it’s natural rhythm? Do you resist or go with the flow?