3 Steps to Spring into Self-Renewal
In Canoeing with the Seasons, I use the seasons as a metaphor for stages of self-growth, and how the natural world mirrors the changes that we undertake as individuals. With the world melting into spring here in the northern hemisphere, I wanted to discuss 7 ways that we can move with this transitional, enlightening season.
Here’s a simple and self-renewing 3 step process for refreshing your mind, body, and spirit this spring.
1. ACCEPT: Ask yourself, “What part(s) of myself stopped growing in the winter?”
A lack of light in the winter of our lives means that we naturally need more comfort, but if we stay in this comfort for too long, we can stagnate in our hearts, bodies, and minds. Additionally, so many of us are privy to seasonal affective disorder, causing us to miss out on the nourishment that we need to thrive.
As such, the first step is to ask ourselves when this transitional time approaches, what area of our lives are we currently stagnating in? Lingering in bed and binging tv shows with our favourite foods might have been just what was needed in the winter, for instance, but now it might be time to accept that daylit walks are much better antidotes to integrate into our self-care practice.
2. PONDER: Ask yourself, “What is one attainable goal that I can set to change my pattern?”
I think where so many of us can get stuck in a previous season of our lives is by falling into an all-or-nothing mentality – thinking that there is so much to do and change ahead of us, so we either must do it all perfectly or do nothing at all.
In The Insightful Journey, Terry Dubroy and I highlight the crucial importance of setting ourselves up for success when we set our goals – not setting the bar too high or too low.
Going back to the example above, realizing that moving your body is better for you than resting too much in the spring of your life means that you need to start super small, perhaps by aiming for a 15 minute daily walk. After a few days of 15 minute walks, you can work your way up to 30, then 45, then even an hour or multiple hours.
The smallest changes will have such a positive ripple effect – all that you have to remember to do is move a mere inch further than you did before. The differences you will automatically feel in your mind, body, and spirit after only a few days or a week of doing this will propel you into those bigger, deeper changes.
Don’t try to move the mountain in one shot! Break it down, and celebrate the little, refreshing wins.
3. ACT: Plan the logistics of how you will do it, hold yourself accountable to do it, and celebrate.
In one of our recent podcast episodes, “Leading An Affirmative Life”, we shared how visualizing the outcomes of what you will do and the logistics of how you will do them automatically puts you further ahead on the path of action.
Using our previous example, here’s what it can look like to envision how your actions will manifest:
Where will you go for your walk? Trail near home - easy to access
When will you go for your walk? Every day immediately after work
How will you hold yourself accountable to do it? Writing it down in my calendar and crossing it off when it’s done
How will you celebrate your win? Writing in my gratitude journal that I am grateful for my efforts to create a healthy lifestyle
Before we close off, I’d like to share one guideline that may be helpful for your self-renewal planning: Love yourself by creating the path of least resistance.
Self-growth and inner work can indeed be tough at times; the High Road is never the easy option. However, by starting small and simple and affirming your actions with appreciative thoughts, you will breathe more life and gratitude into what you are doing, and this will make the process of making difficult changes more peaceful.
