During the late fall and winter months, many find it harder to feel as connected to their life force, to that visceral sense of feeling alive and connected. With the decreased sunlight, colder temperatures and more time spent indoors, it’s common for many people to feel a lull in their energy and motivation. Some feel the winter blues as a mild shift, a leaning into the decreased energy of the season, but for about 5% of the population (approximately 10 million Americans), the autumn and winter climate triggers seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) shows up in similar ways as major depressive disorder, but the trigger is seasonal and goes away with the arrival of Spring. SAD impacts people differently, both in severity and nature. Here are some of the signs to look out for, ranging from the milder case of winter blues and moving further into seasonal depression:
Common Seasonal Shifts
less active than normal
feeling lethargic and fatigue, even sleepy during the day
sleep longer/hard to get going in the morning
harder to to concentrate
lack of interest
increased appetite – especially carbs
Signs of Depression
a persistent low mood
desire to isolate, less social
a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
irritability
feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
low self-esteem
easy to cry
feeling stressed or anxious
lower sex drive
WHEN TO REACH OUT FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP
While it’s perfectly normal to cozy into the shifts we naturally feel during the colder, darker season, we also need to keep in mind that a slow down of energy can become a slippery slide into seasonal depression. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted mental health professional if you are noticing the above signs persisting for more than a few weeks or if they become intensified.
TOOLS TO WORK ON YOUR LIFE FORCE
Whether you’re noticing mild shifts or more intense symptoms of winter time, we all deserve to feel happy, connected, soulful and alive. Drawing inspiration from psychiatrist and author, Phil Stutz, here are some tools to work on your life force, this winter and all year long.
LIFE FORCE PYRAMID: RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY / PEOPLE / YOURSELF
The extent to which we work on our relationship with these 3 areas––BODY, PEOPLE, YOURSELF––we can step by step climb our way into well being and spiritual transformation. Let’s go over each one.
RELATIONSHIP WITH BODY
The body is the first place to start with connecting to your life force. We are talking the basics here because 85% of our well being begins to unfold when we prioritize our sleep, nutrition and movement/physical exercise. When we feel good in our body, and know that we are making choices that empower us, the rest can begin to fall into place.
Go Outside
I also like to add going outside as part of taking care of the body. Fresh air, even when it’s cold, is good for the brain, has a healing quality of its own and gives us perspective.
Find an Ally
Partner with an ally, or multiple allies, to help you keep your commitment to yourself. It’s easy to “intend” good habits but it’s another to keep them and consistently.
RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE
Our inclination is to isolate when our life force energy feels low. All the more reason to plan time to spend with good friends, with those who fill you up. Don’t listen to the voice inside that wants to retreat. Yes, allow for solitude and “me-time” rejuvenation. Make sure you are investing in your relationships, even growing them closer. We feel connected to our life force when we connect with others, when we allow ourselves to open up and be vulnerable. Make dates in your calendar so you have social time built in.
Giving to Others
There’s nothing like taking the focus away from ourselves, going out of our way for someone else, to connect to and generate life force energy. It’s because we are OPENING OUR HEARTS and tapping into the force of creation itself which is the force of sharing. Again, ignore the feeling in your body that doesn't’ feel like moving, that only wants to take energy. Putting in the effort will have quantum paybacks in the energy you feel inside, your body and mind.
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF
This is one of my most favorite topics, your relationship with yourself. We need to fill up from the inside out and most people don’t appreciate that we with ourselves is a real relationship. There are many ways to connect with yourself, but here are a few suggestions:
Write
We want to get to know what is in our subconscious, what lies beneath the surface of our day to day thoughts. Writing can help us connect within, to discover and release our fears and insecurities, our thoughts and feelings. We can also tap into our passions, and what our soul knows to be true, by allowing space to express what our subconscious has to say.
Consume What Inspires You
We are what we consume. We have heard this about the food we eat, but it’s also true about the information, images, wisdom, thoughts and ideas that we allow to enter into our consciousness. I know for me that if I am not studying the spiritual wisdom of Kabbalah, regularly, my consciousness falls lower and so does my energy level. We aren’t meant to feel the ultimate excitement for life at all times. Yet it’s important to explore and commit to ideas, books, podcasts, documentaries, even movies and shows, that inspire you, that awaken your desire and appreciation for your life.
Be Creative
Creativity comes in all shapes and sizes and in many unexpected corners and chambers. Creativity is essentially the experience of coming up with something new and innovative. When we tap into the creative flow, we are directly connecting to the life force within us. Creativity can be found in endless possible places like: cooking, making a slideshow, puzzling, drawing, dancing, designing a space, creating a class, writing a blog, flowers in a vase, writing a business plan, planning a party, Improv comedy, brewing craft beer, planning a trip, writing a card, and on and on.
TAKE AWAY
The most important idea to keep in mind is that you are worth it! You are worth the constant effort to choose that which will connect you to your life force. When you feel disconnected, it’s like being in a maze and you don’t really see your way out. All it takes is one simple step at a time and you will start to see and feel more clearly, more ALIVE!
