As I sat down to write this my mind decided it wanted to go completely blank. I slept on it. Still blank. I asked myself what would serve you the reader the best as a new year starts? Still blank. This has never happened before.
Just like the stillness one feels with fresh snowfall, that permission to just be, to rest, to embrace being fully present with winter. I wondered if this is the message that wanted to be told this month, a message to embrace this seemingly daunting blank slate and be fully present no matter what comes up.
December is a busy month filled with celebrations and often sadness for many too. The interesting combination of many emotions, often emotions that feel like they just don’t fit together.
January energetically feels like a screeching halt from the busy energy of December. Much of the country is dark and cold. I often feel this deep desire to make the year better than the last but am confused as to where to start and feel blank, there that word is again, and don’t know what to look forward to.
As we enter into 2025 what if you gave yourself permission and time to recalibrate, to embody peace and boredom a bit, to regulate your nervous system after the hubbub of the holidays?
I know, it’s hard. A lot can come up in this space: pain you’ve been avoiding feeling, desire you’ve tamped down, fear that your winter will never turn into spring, etc. Personally, I have so many avoidant tactics rather than feeling the feelings that come up in this space. When I’ve allowed myself to sit with it and paused from seeing whom I can help, scrolling on my phone, or stopped the negative dialog in my brain, real change in my life has occurred.
Healing often happens in this liminal space between, this winter. When we allow ourselves permission to sit in this discomfort, even just for a little bit, we give our bodies freedom to feel, process, and release, just like winter prepares the earth for spring.
As this year begins, I challenge you to give yourself this gift, this time to recalibrate, nest, and anchor yourself as a new year starts. When you do, if it gets really uncomfortable find a community that nurtures you to lean on, phone a trusted friend, journal, reach out and never feel shame in asking for help. Generally, people love helping others.
As a coach I often ask my clients what I’m about to ask you. What are you avoiding doing or feeling? Why? What would happen if you allowed yourself space here?
I’d love to support you nicole@eloiandstella.com.
