Last week, in the first article of our Winter Wellness Series, we explored the idea that winter is nature’s season of restoration.
As I continued reading through my old notes on the Water Element and Winter, I came across an idea that immediately made sense to me. Have you ever noticed that when you’re tired, everything feels a little harder?
Perhaps you haven’t been sleeping well, life has been particularly stressful, you haven’t taken time out from your busy schedule, or you’ve simply been giving more than you’ve been receiving for too long. A conversation that wouldn’t normally bother you keeps replaying in your mind. A challenge at work suddenly feels overwhelming. You find yourself worrying about the future, doubting your decisions, or imagining all the things that could go wrong. Even watching the news can leave you feeling unsettled. When we’re in that state, it often feels as though the world has become more frightening and difficult to handle.
It’s interesting to observe that the circumstances themselves haven’t necessarily changed at all. What has changed, is our capacity to meet them.
According to the ancient Chinese understanding of the Water Element, fear is connected to our deepest reserves of energy. When those reserves are plentiful, we tend to feel calm, creative, resourceful and capable. We trust our instincts, new ideas come more easily, and we feel able to meet life’s challenges without becoming overwhelmed by them. But when our reserves begin to run low, we can lose access to that inner sense of strength. We start doubting ourselves, become more cautious, more worried and more focused on potential problems. It becomes harder to see possibilities and easier to see obstacles.
What I love about this perspective is that it doesn’t see fear as a weakness, it sees fear as information. Fear may simply be telling us that we’ve been drawing from our inner reserves for too long, and that it’s time to replenish them. Winter naturally invites us to slow down, get more rest, eat nourishing food, spend time in nature and create space to recharge.
But the Water Element teachings also offer another piece of wisdom. When we’re tired, worried or overwhelmed, it’s easy to get caught up in everything that might happen. Our minds race ahead into the future, imagining problems, worst-case scenarios and situations that may never occur.
One of the most helpful things we can do at times like these is to come back to what is real and practical. Instead of asking ourselves, “What if this happens?”, we can ask, “What can I do about it?” Sometimes there is a practical step we can take. Sometimes there is a conversation we need to have, a decision we need to make, or a plan we need to put in place. Taking action often helps us feel more capable and less overwhelmed.
And sometimes there is nothing we can do at all. In those situations, continually worrying about it only drains the very energy we are trying to restore.
At times like these, it can be helpful to ask ourselves:
What is true right now?
What can I influence?
What practical step can I take?
What would help me feel calmer, safer or more supported today?
Sometimes that might mean turning off the television and taking a walk on the beach. Sometimes it means listening to relaxing music and doing absolutely nothing else. It might be spending time with people who make us feel supported, getting an earlier night, enjoying a warm meal, or simply allowing ourselves a little time to slow down.
When we are rested, grounded and taking practical steps towards the things that matter, something begins to shift. We think more clearly. We feel more capable. We stop imagining quite so many problems, and start noticing more possibilities. The situation may not have changed, but our ability to meet it has.
To support you with this process, I’ve included a recording below designed to help you move into a greater sense of calm, safety and inner resourcefulness.
I hope you enjoy it.
Warmly,
Elayne
Elayne Lane Therapy
P.S. If your reserves have been running low lately, you’re welcome to book a session with me.
Massage can be a wonderful way to slow down, release tension and give your body an opportunity to recharge.
And if fear, anxiety or self-doubt have been getting in the way of living the life you’d like to live, hypnotherapy can help you reconnect with the calm, confidence and inner strength that may feel difficult to access right now.
Continue Reading the Winter Wellness Series