Dec 17, 2025

Embracing Winter’s Quiet: Finding Inner Light in Heavy Times

How to Honor Seasonal Changes and Emotional Weight with Compassion and Ease

As the days grow shorter and sunlight fades, I’ve been feeling that familiar autumn heaviness settle in—a fog resting in my chest and belly. Maybe you know this feeling, too. With less light outside and the weight of recent events adding to the mix, it’s easy to feel less alive, as if our own inner warmth has dimmed. When the world feels heavy, it’s natural to struggle with showing up as the parent, partner, or friend we want to be.

This morning, I woke up with that weight on my chest, feeling tired, uninspired, and craving the energy I thought I should have. Part of me wanted to push it all away, to feel like “myself” again. But then a gentle question arose within me: What if this heaviness has something to say? What if, instead of resisting it, I could make space for it, allowing it to simply be?

Recognizing the Heaviness

Allowing the Feeling to Be

I tried something small. I placed my hand over my chest, where that heaviness seemed to sit, and simply let myself notice my breath. Without trying to fix anything, I stayed present with what I was feeling, allowing each breath to come and go naturally. To my surprise, a gentle warmth - a small light - began to grow inside. It was as though, by allowing the feeling in, I was giving it the space it needed to transform into something softer, less intense.

A New Perspective: What if It Makes Sense?

It dawned on me that, especially in these quieter, colder months, we might not need to fight against the inward pull. Nature itself is slowing down, turning inward, and maybe we’re meant to do the same. The desire to retreat, to pause, and to feel whatever is here doesn’t make us weak or incapable. In fact, honoring this need to slow down might be the most compassionate thing we can do for ourselves and those we care for.

A Gentle Practice to Try

If you’re curious to explore this experience with me, here are a few steps that helped me, but please go at your own pace, listening to your body. This is only an invitation to explore, with no pressure or rush.

Pause and Ask: Begin by asking yourself, What might this feeling want to tell me? What if it makes perfect sense that it’s here? Sometimes, acknowledging the feeling is enough to begin making space for it.
Place a Hand on the Feeling: Rest your hand where the weight feels strongest—maybe in your chest or belly. Let yourself feel the warmth of your own touch, as if offering reassurance to that part of yourself.
Notice Your Breath: Allow your breath to flow naturally, noticing its gentle rise and fall. This simple act creates space around the feeling, allowing it to settle.
Open the Door to What’s There: What if, instead of resisting, you could simply let the feeling be? You might invite it in, just a little, allowing it to be there without needing it to go away.
Reconnect to Your Senses: If exploring becomes too intense, pause, and reconnect with your five senses. Notice something you can see, touch, smell, hear, or taste. This can help your nervous system return to balance, reminding you that you’re safe and supported.

Finding Inner Light

As I stayed with this practice, I felt myself reconnecting with a sense of ease. I realized that, as parents, we don’t always have to show up with boundless energy or a perfectly positive outlook. Sometimes, showing up exactly as we are—allowing ourselves to move through these cycles with gentleness—is enough.

Conclusion: A Season of Compassion

So, as we move through these darker days, let’s offer ourselves the same compassion we would extend to a friend. Let’s make space to listen, to honor what’s present, and to find our own gentle rhythm. There’s no rush to “fix” or “become” anything. We’re simply invited to rest in what is, and in doing so, perhaps find a quiet light growing within us.