In our culture of constant performance, we are taught to fear the quiet periods — the winter seasons of our own transformation. But what if these periods are not signs of stagnation, but essential for the growth that follows?
The Myth of Eternal Summer
We want to be in constant bloom. We want the harvest without the dormancy. But nature teaches us that nothing blooms all year round. The trees in the Huon Valley lose their leaves not because they are dying, but because they are conserving energy for what comes next.
When we find ourselves in a period of low energy, lack of direction, or quietness, our instinct is often to panic. We try to force a new beginning before the old ending has fully processed.
"Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible."
Trusting the Dormancy
Transformation requires these fallow periods. It is in the dark, quiet soil that the seed breaks open. If we rush this process, we arrive at our new season exhausted and fragile.
If you are in a winter season right now, try to resist the urge to turn on the artificial lights. Let it be dark. Let it be quiet. Trust that something is happening beneath the surface that you cannot yet see.