Monday Mindset
Embrace the Season You're In
I have heard from many that this January has felt longer than most. I definitely can relate to that feeling. I returned to journal entries from early last year when I felt this acutely. While this year has its own challenges, my sentiments from last year echo what many feel now. January felt like the longest Monday ever.
If you feel that about this month, take heart! We’re on the last leg, and we will turn over one calendar page to another at the close of this week.
No matter how you feel about the speed of time passing, I hope that you are able to embrace the present moment with intention. No season lasts forever, and neither will this one. May you have eyes to see what remains beautiful, true, and gracious in the midst of hard realities.
In finishing out our monthly series on Alignment, today we’re talking about the importance of:
Embracing the Season You’re In
“Be aware of what season you are in and give yourself the grace to be there.”
— Kristen Dalton
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
Seasonality matters in our approach to many things. It affects how we dress, the things we keep on hand, and to some extent, our energy levels. If we spend all winter wishing we were still in summer, we make things harder on ourselves. Alignment should bring more ease into our lives. Knowing what season we are in can help us make room for what is useful in the present, while putting away what isn’t for another time.
When I moved to MN many moons ago, I wasn’t used to the intense cold of below zero days (and weeks!). It wasn’t until several years in when I bought cold weather gear that I actually began to enjoy the season. Warm boots, proper layers, and a coat that rivals a sleeping bag all helped me to embrace winter, and dare I say, even learn to love it.
When we set ourselves up with proper tools that help us work with the demands of the season, we create more ease in our lives. Avoidance only makes things more difficult—and much less enjoyable.
Equally important as having the right tools is knowing what things we can store for another time, putting it on the backburner, so to speak. For instance, I don’t carry my paddleboard in the trunk of my car in winter, though it is a staple in the summer months. The reminder of warmer days is only a distraction in the depths of winter, and the large backpack takes up room that is better used for other things—like my snowshoes, snow pants, as well as an extra pair of boots.
Too many of us hold onto things that no longer make sense for the season we are in simply because it’s what we’re used to. If we know our values and priorities, and yet our days are spent being distracted by things that pull us away from them, there is an input problem. We need to be more intentional about where we put our energy, as well as the things we give our attention to.
If we want to make it easier on ourselves, we will put away what doesn’t serve us at this time and lean on tools that will make it more enjoyable to embrace what is within our reach. We can set ourselves up for success by making it easier to say yes to the things that matter in this season.
Knowing what our values and priorities are for this time can guide the structure we put into place, while also leaving room for unexpected opportunities. It is all about perspective.
I can’t tell you what you should focus on right now. I can’t dictate what your priorities and values should be—only that you should turn your attention toward what is true, what is longing to come forth, and what is requiring your attention at this time.
When you can see the landscape, environment, and the promise of this season, you can put your energy where it’s most needed.
This can make what has felt uncomfortable more bearable. Let’s not work against ourselves here. As we pinpoint what this season requires of us, let’s put away the things that get in the way of embracing this time. We can view it as we would a closet changeover—moving our seasonal tools to where it makes sense for them to be.
Are there habits that no longer make sense for you in this season of your life? (You could replace habits with relationships, pursuits, hobbies, etc).
Bonus Question:
Looking over your values and priorities for the next month or so, what practices, tools, or connections make sense to have in place?
Do a free-write on the following prompt:
“It no longer makes sense to keep…”
Set a timer for five minutes, and keep the pen moving.
[A free-write is putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and getting the words onto the page. You’re not editing, you’re not being careful about what you’re writing, you are letting what is wanting to be said out.]
When you’re finished, notice how that felt.
Was there anything that surprised you? Was it helpful?
Don’t forget, there’s a whole library of topics to explore and return to when you’re ready.
Here’s the Theme Index to make it easier (you might want to bookmark this :-D).