Winter of the Soul

   Hey Friends! Recently I heard Mark and Juliana from Boho Beautiful talk about a "Winter of the Soul." And I thought that was such a beautiful way of naming those times when we feel a little bit frozen, when we can't seem to move forward, and when growth seems stagnant. You see, in life there are seasons for everything. In fact, the Bible has a whole book dedicated to this concept (check out Ecclesiastes). 

    There are times when we are in full bloom, when things are moving forward and growth is exploding all around us. During these times, we may feel excited and filled with possibility. There are times when we are in harvest, when we are reaping the rewards of those seeds of hard work and persistence we have sown. But there are also times when we are in winter, when things seem dormant and dead. Maybe we just finished a project or a door closed on an opportunity. Or maybe you just feel tired inside and need to slow down. It's during these times we need to be conscientious of what cycle we are in and what we need to do to weather this particular season. 

    When we find ourselves mentally or spiritually in winter, this may mean we need to take some time to rest, to slow down, to meditate and plan, or just to reset. Often winter can feel tough. You know that mid-February feeling that the sun will never come out again? But if you can remember this is only a season, it will help you to not only walk through this particular time, but also to make the most of the season you are in. During physical winter, all of nature is doing a reset. It is resting, hibernating, preparing for fresh growth in the spring. Similarly, when we are in a winter internally, we may need to slow down our outward effort, conserve our energy, look inward, and prepare ourselves for a fresh season of growth. 

    If you're in a winter right now, don't miss the beauty of this season and what it offers. Take the time to reset. Give yourself a break. Cut yourself some slack, and know that you are preparing to build something beautiful in the spring. Use this time to think and to dream. Get yourself ready for that next opportunity. Spring is just around the corner. I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W. 

Excuses, Excuses

   Hello Friends! I've been thinking lately about excuses, particularly those excuses we use to deter ourselves from becoming the best versions of ourselves. You see, recently I was struggling with my health. I had been sick a lot, and this threw me out of my normal routine of exercise and healthful eating. But as time wore on, I was getting farther and farther from the healthiest version of myself, and instead of picking myself up and beginning the journey again, I made excuses. I know you would never do this, but mine went something like this. "It's just so expensive to eat healthy." "I just don't have the time to prepare good food and work out." "I'm just so tired all the time." 

  The problem was, deep down, I knew these were just excuses for not doing what I needed to do to care for my body. And as is often the case when we make excuses, I was getting frustrated with myself. But of course, we don't tend to place the blame where it belongs, and so we start to blame other people. (Not you, of course, I know. But speaking for myself.) I blamed my family for taking up my time or being on the TV when I wanted to do a workout video. I blamed our busy schedule for not eating the way I should, all the while, knowing the answer was actually in letting go of those excuses and getting back on the path. 

  Excuses can derail us. Not only that, but they tend to make us pretty miserable. And here's the reason. As long as we deny responsibility for our circumstances, we also deny ourselves the ability to make them better. That's right. We have to own up to grow up. The moment we begin to take responsibility for where we are, that's when we gain the power to change where we are going. You see, the truth is, we all have a finite amount of time and resources. And maybe it's true that you don't have as many options as someone else. But that doesn't mean you're without any options. It's time to put down the excuses and start taking the steps you can, no matter how small they may seem at the time. 

  This week, look for areas where you are making excuses and placing blame. Then take some responsibility, knowing that by owing your circumstances, you are empowering yourself to make them better. Cut through those lies you're telling yourself and get back on the path toward the very best version of you, one little step at a time. I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.