February: A Time to Begin Again

It’s February – a time of year where the enthusiasm of New Year’s resolutions starts to wane. For many, the energy of setting intentions, goals, and new habits begins to fade. The excitement of the new year slips into the daily grind, and suddenly, it feels easy to give up. The defeatist voice inside starts to get louder, offering excuses to return to old, familiar patterns. After all, it’s the middle of winter, and we’re holding ourselves to expectations that Spring has arrived.  I believe there is synchronicity between annual seasons and the cycle of personal growth. 

We expect our growth to follow a straight path, where every day is a step forward. However, just like nature, personal growth isn’t linear, it’s a spiral. In February, the world outside reflects what many of us are feeling inside, at any time of year.  Cold, dark days can leave us drained, and our self-talk can turn critical, sabotaging, or into a victim mindset.  What if, instead, we gave ourselves the grace to honor the process of a personal winter, the folding into ourselves, before the next burst of Spring growth?

There’s a Japanese proverb that says, “Fall down seven times, get up eight.” This is a powerful reminder that resilience doesn’t come from never falling, but from the act of getting up, again and again. In my own yoga practice, my teacher often says, “Begin, again.” It’s a gentle invitation to let go of the pressure of perfection and instead embrace the fluidity of growth. Sometimes, we stumble, and that’s okay. Every fall is simply an opportunity to rise stronger, more aware, and more determined. Resilience grows in these moments of falling, then beginning again.

So, as we reach the heart of winter, let’s give ourselves permission to embrace the natural rhythms of life. Just like the trees rest and gather energy for their eventual bloom, we too need periods of rest and reflection.  In rest, we recharge.  In reflection, awareness grows.   All we can do, really, is start where we are, today. 

This February, let’s challenge the idea that personal growth has to be a race. Instead, we can make peace with the process, knowing that each small step counts.  There is no one way to any destination, sometimes veering off course simply means taking the scenic route to growth. Embrace the imperfections, trust the process, and know that you’re exactly where you need to be. Just like nature, you’ll rise when the time is right; again and again.

~Erica Thiessen, Clinical Director