Dealing with the Winter Blues?

The winter blues touch the lives of many, and the long anticipation of spring's arrival seems to prolong those feelings. I only go on Reddit.com occasionally, but I have seen others share how the dark skies this month have them emotionally struggling. Where I live, we haven't seen the sun in 30 days.

If this resonates with you, know you aren't alone.

If you find yourself feeling down more than up these days, here are some tips you can try to shift your mood.

Firstly, try increasing your dose of Vitamin D and take walks outside, even if it's raining. Fresh air, nature, and body movement are great ways to improve your mood. Secondly, turn on a high-intensity light in the room where you spend most of your time. I turn on every light I have in my office during daylight hours.

It's important to control your thoughts because they may generate temporary feelings of sadness. Instead of evaluating or fixating on negative thoughts, accept them and move on.

JUST STOP IT! 

It's easy to overthink and analyze late-night feelings, but they can be misleading. Stop yourself. Don't let Satan take control of your thoughts.

Look for events to get yourself out of the house. Last night I went to a new group for ladies - gentle yoga called phoga. I focused on stretching and breathing along with 20 or so other ladies I'd never met before. I felt so good after, I went on Facebook to search for other events in my area over the next two months.

RECOGNIZING NEEDS

Feelings can be difficult to handle, especially during the winter months when our mood tends to be low. However, they can also serve as indicators of our needs. Our emotions can help us identify something that is missing in our lives and guide us toward taking new steps to fill the gaps. 

It's a good idea to ask God for his opinion on what might be missing and for suggestions on how to fill the gaps. (While it's important to wait on God, it's equally important to take new small steps.) 

WRITE OUT YOUR THOUGHTS

It can be beneficial for some people to write down their emotions or make a vision board that reflects their feelings. However, it's important not to dwell on negative emotions. 

It's important to note that what we concentrate on tends to grow, hence, it's better to acknowledge our emotions and shift our focus towards more positive thoughts. If you create a vision board or art piece that represents negative emotions, it's recommended to follow it up with a positive one that represents the opposite. 

Choose words and photos that bring a spark of joy. I have created this with a word cloud generator. Try it for yourself here: 

Get to Know Yourself

I'm reading Dr. Caroline Leaf's book The Perfect You. I'm not quite ready to recommend it because it is a rather difficult book to digest. My goal with it is to identify my personality better and embrace the good parts of it. 

I know I am a melancholic who feels deeply. I overthink. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I've been told I'm hard on myself. It doesn't matter the root causes, especially, what matters to me is coming to terms with the idea that it is how God created me and being aware how these traits affect my feelings and choices. They'll help me be on my guard. They'll help me make better choices. 

Beyond these ideas are many more. Let me know the tips and tricks you use to get through the dark-sky days of winter.  And until winter passes, trust the Lord, do your best, and go easy on yourself. 

Year End Ponderings

As we enter the new year, it's a great time to reflect on our past accomplishments and to set new goals for the future. Let's leave behind what no longer serves us and reach out towards what we desire.

Here are some of my current ponderings. Take some time to make your own list and feel free to share it in the comments.

• Stop ruminating about past situations
  
  
• Stop thoughts of self-criticism

• Have faith in God working through you
  
  
  
  

• 
  Stop trying to fix yourself
  
  
• Be careful of all the advice out there--not all is of God nor is all necessary
  
  
• Enjoy the life God has given you
  
  
  
  

• Choose your thoughts intentionally
  
  
• Normalize boredom, we all deal with it
  
  
• Take care of your home and all God has given you
  
  
• Trust God to make changes in your life supernaturally
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Seek peace

• Stay meditative and mindful
  
  
• Hibernating in the winter is okay
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
• Choose joy, kindness, and peace over negativity or constant activity
  
  
• Stay out of others' business
  
  
• Withdraw from troubling social media
  
  
• Encourage others as you can
  
  
• Don't try to control your adult children or spouse; set them free
  
  

• You don't have to report to the outside world everything you do
  
  
• Pace your purchases, especially of reading material. Read what you bring home
  
  
• Let God write your 2024 
  
  
  

What I will continue to do in 2024.

Currently, my daily routine includes stretching, feeding the outdoor birds, walking, attending church, creating art, reading devotional material, writing as inspired or requested, journalling, doing house chores, and taking care of a feral cat as well as my pets.

"Take a moment to reflect on the powerful message below:

💚💚💚

These three green hearts are a reminder to embrace love, kindness, and compassion in everything we do. Let's strive to spread positivity and make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time. Together, we can make a difference."

Read Scripture and Let it Speak to You

 

I'm currently reading the poverty and justice bible (CEV) Contemporary English Version. It was given to me at a church years ago when they had a focus Sunday on the topic of justice. I'd put it aside until recently. 

But over the last few years, I've been intrigued by the topics of poverty and justice. I've worked voluntarily on a project related to justice--to hold violaters of such accountable. I've also been part of giving circles that reach out to those less fortunate than I. When decluttering my bookshelf, I came across this bible again. My first thought was to donate it to a homeless person. But I stopped short of that. I began reading segments instead. 

 

Here is a list I also came across in my journal notes. 

When you are spoken to with scripture: 

1. Underline it and write it down. 

2. Think about what it means.

3. Look up meanings of words if you need to or desire to.

4. Adjust your life to what it says.

5. Take any action you sense from it.

6. Watch how God reinforces the truth during your day. 

I had thrown out a lined paper notebook during my decluttering process there in my art table area. I know that doodling and journalling are therapeutic to my soul, so while reading this bible, I decided to retrieve the notebook and write down the points that spoke to me. Being at my art table, I was able to use various coloured pens. 

As it turned out, while I did read a few highlighted verses on poverty, I mostly came across verses on wisdom and valuable lessons for navigating a current life issue. 

If you don't already spend time on an exercise as described above, why not make it your goal? 

Let the Voices in your Head Go!

 

The following is an excerpt from a Rick Warren's Daily Devotional email: 

Jesus said in John 5:30, “I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants” (GNT). Jesus knew who he was trying to please.

If you’re not trying to please God, then in all likelihood, you’re trying to please a bunch of people. It’s a lot easier and less stressful to decide you’re going to please God—because whatever you do that pleases God will always be the right thing. This is why Jesus was so stress resistant. He was only trying to please one person.

• Whose approval are you depending on for your happiness? 
• Who are you still trying to please? 

For some, it’s a parent who never showed approval or encouragement. For others, it may be a boss who’s impossible to please, no matter how hard you try. But you are not a victim. You are as free as you choose to be. Nobody can pressure you into meeting their expectations without your permission.

Keep Creating and Become a Generous Giver

We are all creators. Made in the image of Creator God, we pour out from our being the ideas he places in us. For some, it is home decorating. Others, creating art or writing. Still others, building websites or creating graphics. 

I'm convinced that when we use the gifts God has blessed us with to bless others, we in turn will be blessed again. That is why I say develop your gifts, but share them with the world. Don't keep them to yourself. 

Be a Giver

I share my art online. I share about my other niche interests on social media too. 

I look for opportunities to give generously to various charities or individuals. But I know I can't give away all our family's personal resources, so I try to encourage others to also join in. 

I share on social media, posts and information I think will either be helpful to the person who created the original post, or helpful to the person who will see it. 

Sometimes OUR GIFT is as simple as using our network to share the giftings of others.  (see verse)

Proverbs 27:2  

Don't call attention to yourself; 

let others do that for you.

Creativity is Therapeutic 

The act of creating is helpful to us personally too. I don't have scientific studies to share, but I know creating at my art table is one way I unwind. It's therapeutic. I look forward to it at day's end.

And snapping photos on my Sabbath is a way I do something different that day that is enjoyable and calming. 

(A Facebook post by 

Curry's Artists' Materials)

Self-Coaching Prompt 

What gifts do you have? 

Do you need help in identifying them? 

What is one thing you can't not do? 

(To discover your passions, consider a look at my ebook 

What's Next? In Midlife: Identify Your Top 5 Essential Passions.)

In order to bless others as mentioned above, consider these tips:

1. Develop the gifts God has given you.   

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2. Move forward in confidence that God will work through you.  

Philippians 2:13 (NIV) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

 

Sometimes, like the boy in Mark who seemed to be the only one in the crowd with food (bread loaves and fish), we feel we don't have much to offer.  But God will multiply the little we do offer.   

We are each unique. Our niche interests are God's gift to us, and what we do with them is our gift back to God.