Stasis: The Rhythm of Winter

Hello, dear people.

I often feel a bit off at the start of a new year.

I think, in part, this is because it doesn't always feel like a new year to me.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, we're in the middle of winter.

We're in the middle of winter, and it's cold, and the days are still quite short,
and everything is

brown,

beige,

grey,

and white.

It feels more like a time of stasis to me - not a time to be insisting on plans, intentions, resolutions.

Now look, I am not against plans, intentions, and resolutions! Not at all. Part of what drives us to forge new paths or to carry on is the intent, the planning, the actions. But culturally, we are already so driven, without much time to pause, to wonder, and to reflect. And I think one of the things that actually inspires relevant and meaningful action is first having time to wonder, and to reflect, and to dream.

That seems like the crux of what I want to say, so I'll say it again:

Relevant and meaningful action happens when we have time to rest, to reflect, and to dream.

I actually prefer to think of the new year as starting in springtime. This is a time of natural, organic beginnings -
little creatures being born,
little seedlings growing,
the warm weather returning in fits and starts.

So, until the spring arrives, I love the idea of creating space to be slow and to pause - even if only for a few moments here and there. This idea of tiny pauses is important, I think, because not everyone has the freedom (or the inclination) to take many weeks or months off to be quiet and still.

Even with slow, inward-facing activities like pausing, and resting, and reflecting, we sometimes get the message "Go Big or Go Home"!! As if, unless you rest bigly there is no hope of "getting it right". This is crazy and not helpful. And yes I know that bigly is a ridiculous word, but it just felt so right in that sentence 😄.

Big and small pauses can be so restorative. I often think of the African proverb that philosopher Bayo Akomolafe quotes:

"The times are urgent; Let us slow down".

The times are urgent. Let us slow down. Creating little pauses in between activities helps us to slow down, to think more clearly, to allow our heart rate to slow down. Creating pauses gives us time to reflect or make a new choice.

This year, let's practise small moments of pause.

Watch for the natural pauses in your days, and extend them - for even a breath or two.

Let's keep it simple, and doable.

Sending you lots of good wishes, and courage for these days.

Lisa xo

If you could use some dedicated time and space this season to pause and slow down, register for the CHI Yoga & Meditation Membership, and use the coupon code MYCHI2025 for 15% off the regular price. The livestream movement and meditation classes that are part of this membership start on January 30th and run until May 30th. If you register by January 16th, you will also gain access to a special Deep Winter Practice happening on Jan. 17th!