Slowly does it during the winter months
How to avoid falling into a low mood in winter, and instead naturally embrace slowing down pace to turn inwards and reflect on a positive path ahead?
Proudly featured in Breathe Magazine
Winter is naturally a time for turning inward, reflecting and slowing down.
The weather in the winter months invites us to stay at home, slow down and turn inwards. What are the benefits of doing so, but also how to avoid falling into a low mood, and suffering from the effects of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or even depression?
My clients mention they are curious about going on an inward journey. Pressing the pause button and connecting with what is going on deep inside. It’s exciting, yet a little daunting. You might wonder what might come up, and if you end up feeling worse. Will you get bored or even a bit depressed during the dark winter months?
As Thich Nhat Hanh said, “If the plant does not become dormant in the winter, it cannot be reborn in the spring."
Knowledge of the right tools and techniques on how to turn inwards are crucial. It's like having a travel guide on this Inner Journey to make sure personal reflection doesn’t result in spiralling down and feeling depressed, but instead becomes a joyful journey of self-discovery.
Proudly Featured in Breathe Magazine
The talented Journalist Kate Orson invited me to write comments for her piece in Breathe Magazine, called “Slowly does it”.
How to avoid a winter depression, and instead enjoy the slower pace to turn inwards and reflect on a postitive path ahead.
Click on the photo of the article, and a pdf file opens to read the text in full.
Suggestions on how to look after yourself during the slow winter season
Karin Peeters is a life coach and psychotherapist. She has the following advice on dealing with the sometimes challenging feelings that can arise during these dark winter months:
Start by being OK with not being OK
Stop beating yourself up for whatever might be going on inside of you. Be kind to yourself and develop an open, curious attitude instead. Whenever a thought or feeling pops up, suspend judgement. As if you are your own best friend, who just wants you to be happy. Allow it to be. Don’t push it away or tell it it’s wrong, nonsense, spoiled or too much.
This helps: focus your awareness on your breath, the falling and rising of your chest and belly, while the feelings slowly settle down. Breathe unconditional loving kindness to yourself, saying to yourself “I wish you happiness”.
Create a safe space to start listening to your deeper Self
Allow yourself a sanctuary in whatever way suits you. Go for a walk in nature. Gaze into the distance at your favourite coffee place. Run in the rain. Talk with someone who has your happiness at heart. Write. Dance. Draw. Compose a piece of music. Take photographs representing how you feel.
Everything is allowed. Let it be a joyous adventure, with plenty of breaks for rest.
Let us guide you to feel a little lighter this winter, and read more about how Coaching & Therapy Services for Depression can help you
fertile ground for new opportunities
How to avoid a winter depression by getting the right support?
Winter is a time of transformation. The same applies to ourselves. It's the death of the old, before the birth of the new. We might feel that the version of ourselves that we know so well no longer applies, but how our life will look instead is not yet fully known.
It’s called the void in psychotherapy. It can feel like a scary place to be. But it is also the fertile ground for new opportunities.
It might seem easier to ignore our inner world by killing time behind screens. But avoidance strategies don't bring the happiness we are craving for. Instead of numbing or avoiding our feelings, we are invited to call on our courage.
Turn inwards this winter towards a deeper truth and awaken to a more meaningful, fulfilling way of living.
“If the plant does not become dormant in the winter, it cannot be reborn in the spring.”
