Happy New Year 2025!... but above all, happy reflections!
A moment to pause and rejuvenate
I hope you were all able to take advantage of the holiday season to take a break from routine and share moments with family, friends and loved ones!
And that you've also been able to recharge your batteries, whether in nature or in the comfort of your own home, by taking the time to do something you love and/or that makes you feel good!
A start to the year at odds with nature?
Back to work in January is often synonymous, at least for people in the northern hemisphere, with intensity, stress, tight deadlines and long working hours, often rapidly depleting the slender energy reserves we have after all the activities surrounding the end of the year and the holiday season.
A look at the plant and animal kingdoms
When we observe the plant and animal kingdoms around us, we notice that, for them, winter is synonymous with slowing down, wintering or hibernating, resting.
Winter in Chinese medicine
Similarly, in Chinese medicine, winter is the season when yin energy is at its peak, the feminine energy that represents calm, receptivity, darkness and cold. This energy invites us to introspection, to nourish and replenish our physical and mental reserves.
Winter is also associated with the element "water", which generally embodies the essence of calm, reflection and energy reserves.
My personal observations
When I discovered qigong and became interested in the concepts of Chinese medicine, I quickly realized that my winter lifestyle was contrary to the principles of yin and nature...
I would manage to get through the winter and that super-busy period for me at work, but I would inevitably fall ill as soon as I would manage to take a vacation in the spring... normal, I'd completely exhausted my energy reserves!
How do you readjust?
How can we change the course of things when we're in the thick of things and the demands, both personal and professional, are coming from everywhere?
The importance of introspection
How about taking a step back and analyzing the situation? After all, yin energy invites us to introspect!
Like me, you've probably noticed that a lot of people talk about their vision boards, their intentions and goals for the year.
Far from wanting to add one more task to your probably already busy days, I consider the reflections that generally accompany these actions to be important and in line with what nature encourages us to do! After all, how can we realize our dreams if we don't take the means to get there?
Nature invites us to turn inward, to take an introspective journey, to take stock of what's happened over the past 12 months.
An invitation to reflect
Here are some examples of questions you can ask yourself, objectively and without judgment:
What have you achieved this year?
How closely are your achievements aligned with the goals you set for yourself (if applicable)?
What are your best and worst moves?
What lessons can you draw from your experiences?
Where could you put more energy and where could you put less?
What would you like to pursue? What would you like to change?
Once you've established this, how can you better align your actions with your aspirations?
Keep your findings visible
Write down your findings, put them down on paper, in whatever format you choose!
And keep them visible so they can inspire you every day!
Need help?
Did you know that most of the goals people set at the beginning of the year are not met, and are even forgotten after a few months or even weeks?
Don't follow the trend! Individual coaching can help and support you in your introspection and identification of your deepest aspirations and the motivation behind them.
We often rely on external resources to achieve our goals. But we usually have all the resources we need internally!
It's all about finding the right path to unlock our full potential! A coach can be a valuable ally on this journey!
Try it and see! What's more, the first introductory session is free!
Enjoy your reflection time!
