Spring: Finding the Balance Between Doing and Receiving
Enjoying the energy of Spring without wearing ourselves out
There’s something wonderful about the arrival of Spring. After the shorter, colder days of winter, the world begins to come alive again. The trees are covered in fresh green leaves, flowers are pushing up through the earth, and the birds are busy preparing their nests.
We can often feel that same change within ourselves.
A renewed enthusiasm for getting things done, spending more time outdoors, tidying the garden, clearing out cupboards or finally tackling those jobs we’ve been putting off. It’s as though the energy that has been resting through winter is beginning to rise and move again.
In traditional Five Element thinking, Spring is associated with the Wood element, which represents growth, movement, direction and flexibility. I find this a lovely way of understanding the seasonal change, because we are part of nature too, and many of us recognise that feeling of wanting to move forward as the days become warmer and lighter.
When Spring energy becomes busyness
The trouble is that renewed enthusiasm can quickly turn into a very long list of things to do.
We start one job, notice another, make plans for the weekend, spend longer in the garden and find ourselves rushing to fit everything in. Before long, all that lovely Spring energy is being used up almost as quickly as it arrives. And with Christmas approaching and our calendars becoming busier, it’s easy to find ourselves giving out more energy than we’re taking in.
Finding a balance means enjoying that renewed enthusiasm while also making time for the things that restore us.
And in the middle of all this activity, we can overlook the very things that make Spring such a beautiful season. The blossom on the trees, the fragrance of flowers, the warmth of the sunshine, the changing colours in the garden and the pleasure of being outdoors again.
Spring has so much to offer us beyond the motivation to get things done. It also offers us opportunities to be nourished by the world around us.
Letting Spring give something back to you
One way of finding a better balance is to take little pauses throughout the day and allow yourself to enjoy what’s happening around you.
You might be working in the garden when the scent of a flower catches your attention. Instead of carrying on with the next job, stop and enjoy it for a few moments. Notice the fragrance, the colour and the pleasure of being there.
While hanging out the washing, you might feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Or find yourself watching a beautiful sunset at the end of the day.
These experiences are small, but they can bring a surprising sense of enjoyment and refreshment.
They are examples of what we call glimmers.
Glimmers are those little moments of pleasure, comfort, beauty or connection that appear throughout ordinary life. By noticing them and staying with the experience for a few seconds, we give ourselves an opportunity to take in something good.
It’s a lovely way to bring more enjoyment into the day while balancing all the energy we’re giving out.
Finding Your Glimmers
I’ve written a separate guide called Finding Your Glimmers, which explores how these small moments of pleasure, beauty and connection can enrich our lives and help us discover what genuinely nourishes us.
The guide also looks at how glimmers can become little treats and rewards. Instead of automatically reaching for food when we want to reward ourselves, we can widen our choices to include experiences such as reading a favourite poem, listening to music, spending time in nature, being creative or enjoying a few minutes of peace.
There’s also a simple seven-day practice to help you discover your own glimmers and bring more of them into everyday life.
The Garden That Tends to You — A Relaxation Recording
There is another part of this balance that I think is especially important.
So much of our lives is spent tending to everything around us. We look after our homes, gardens, families, work and the people we care about. There is great satisfaction in caring for others and creating a lovely environment, but we also need opportunities to experience that same care coming back towards us.
I’ve created a relaxation recording called The Garden That Tends to You, which explores this experience of receiving.
Imagine entering a beautiful garden where everything has already been taken care of. There are no weeds to pull, no jobs waiting for attention and nobody needing anything from you. The garden is there for your enjoyment, and instead of tending to it, you can allow the garden to tend to you.
As the experience unfolds, you’re invited to let go of the effort of holding everything together and discover what it feels like to be supported, nurtured and replenished.
It’s a lovely experience to enjoy when you’ve been busy, when you’ve been giving a great deal of yourself to others, or when you’d simply like some time to unwind.
Choose a comfortable place where you can rest without interruption, and allow yourself time to enjoy the recording. Please listen when you’re able to give it your attention, rather than while driving or doing anything that requires concentration.
Listen here:
Enjoying the Fullness of Spring
Spring brings a natural invitation to move, grow, create and become involved in life again. There’s real pleasure in following that energy, especially when we’ve been waiting through winter to get back into the garden or spend more time outdoors.
Alongside all that activity, we can make room for the experiences that restore us.
A few minutes enjoying the sunshine, a beautiful flower, a favourite piece of music or a longer period of rest can help us appreciate the season in a richer way.
And as you move through the coming weeks, I invite you to notice both sides of Spring: the energy that inspires you to do things, and the wonderful things around you that are there to be enjoyed.
Let Spring nourish you as well as inspire you.
Warmly,
Elayne
Continue Exploring
If you’ve enjoyed exploring the balance between doing and receiving, there are other free resources on my website to help you discover what nourishes you and supports your wellbeing.
Finding Your Glimmers – Discover how small moments of pleasure, beauty and connection can enrich everyday life. My guide includes practical ideas, treats and rewards, and a seven-day glimmers practice. Read: Finding Your Glimmers
Helping Your Body Find Calm – Explore my free guided recordings and practical exercises for finding more steadiness and comfort when life feels stressful. Explore: Helping Your Body Find Calm
Explore the Wellbeing Library – You’ll find more articles, guides and resources on massage, hypnotherapy, emotional wellbeing and caring for your nervous system. Visit the Wellbeing Library
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I enjoy sharing practical ideas about looking after ourselves and finding more enjoyment and wellbeing in everyday life.
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A Little More Support
At Elayne Lane Therapy in Nelson, I offer massage, hypnotherapy, Reiki and somatic bodywork. If you’d like some individual support, you can explore my services and learn more about my approach on my website.