Many of my hypnotherapy clients will have heard me talk about migration in their sessions and will recognise some of the words I have used in this blog post. The need to change but not quite knowing when to do it. It is one of my favourite language patterns. It resonates with me even more now as we try and embrace the Winter months.
Birds, animals migrate, thousands of miles, taking care of themselves and their young. They find warmer climates, with plenty of food to keep them nourished and energised. We don’t migrate but our ancestors would have prepared for the long Winter months. Hunted and gathered. Built up their dwellings. Fed with abundance over the lighter months so they were prepared over the scarcer months. Then in the winter months they would have hunkered down, stayed in the warmth, looked after themselves and each other.
In this day and age we don’t do that, we can’t do that. We have evolved to have food all year round, central heating, working to keep a roof over our heads. For the majority of us though, our brains haven’t evolved to accept these changes.
When September arrives we really start to notice the shorter days and we are expected to carry on as normal. When we can’t, when we are seen to be struggling a bit with life we blame it on our mental health.
I see approximately 100 clients a month. The majority are regulars, some I have seen for several years. I notice the change in them and myself as the seasons change. My medication goes up, my intake of magnesium and vitamin D increases. I make sure I increase MY reflexology, Reiki and Kinesiology appointments! Yes! Even us therapists have regular treatments! I do everything I can to prepare myself for the coming months. Because I struggle.
The dog still needs walking regardless of the time of year. I can appreciate the beautiful colours of Autumn. Reds, oranges, yellows, browns and greens. The crispness of the leaves underfoot – when the weather is dry. I ignore the sludgy wet leaves and searching for the camouflaged dog poo amongst the leaves!! Mentally, walking is my go to therapy. Mindful, even in the rain!
Late Winter is a bit different for me. I have had enough. I need Sun, I need a nice gentle breeze on my skin when walking the dog on the beach rather than the fierce wind coming off the North Sea!
How many of us struggle with the changing of the clocks twice a year. We may think it is the time change but that may just be a coincidence. It is the whole seasons changing. Our mindset desperately trying to adjust to the changes. I know my worst times are these colder months and, despite Spring being my best time, I still struggle to adjust to the lighter days.
We may not know the feeling like those birds and animals do. When it is right to go, to take off and travel thousands of miles. But we do know when we are cold and need to get warm, hungry and need to eat. We also know when we are approaching those colder, shorter days. We may have to carry on with our every day lives, but we can manage the gloominess, the need to hunker down and hibernate from the world.
That is ok! We don’t need to think there is something wrong with us. We don’t need to have to go out or socialise like we do in the Summer. Now is the time to embrace the thermals, take off the bra, put on woolly socks and dressing gowns. Now is the time to hunker down and hibernate. Not to feel guilty about it. Obviously if you want to do that 24/7, then yes, perhaps you need some extra help. But lets not beat ourselves up because actually we are happier in the comfort of our own home, staring down at a pair of white fluffy socks (can you guess, what I have on my feet!) rather than a pair of boots or heels ready to go out and hit the town.
I love my friends, dearly. However, sometimes it takes everything I have to get out of the house to see them, too socialise. I HATE letting people down. If I actually can’t do it, I hope they understand that I have been fretting all day about it. I say NO to things far more than I used to. I pace myself a bit more. I know a lot of people do. I check the diary to see what other social events or work commitments I have on that week before giving a definite answer. We do need our friends to keep us sane. We need to see them, to catch up, to listen, to talk but more importantly to laugh! And we laugh- a lot! If you have friends like mine, you can even pop round for a cup of tea in your pyjamas and that is considered quite normal!
Although necessary to stay cosy and warm, mentally we do need to embrace activities that encourage our serotonin and endorphins (happy hormones) to flow! Walking and pilates or yoga is my thing! I walk because I love it. At this time of
year, when it seems to have done nothing but rain, it has been a little harder to get my shoes on and get out there. Fortunately, the dog does not care what the weather conditions are and needs to walk! Twice a day! It does start the day off for me. In fact the only way to stop my dog licking me every morning is to take her on her walk!
Let’s be kind – to ourselves but also let’s be kind to each other. Understand when someone wants to hibernate, understand that it is not just you that wants to hibernate, it is others as well.
We can increase our supplements. Vitamin D3, magnesium, B and C vitamins. Come and see me for a kinesiology appointment to see if you need some supplements. See if they are being absorbed efficiently.
So! Let’s embrace the changes! Rather than fighting them, accept the change. Don’t allow it to be all consuming, but accept that just sometimes you need to hunker down and hibernate!
I would like to say we need to be that camouflaged dog poo but THAT always needs to be found and picked up!!
If you would like to make an appointment with me to find out what can help you to help yourself please contact me. I will do my best to help! I do understand!
07974880615 elizabethjohns73@gmail.com
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