I’ve had several conversations with clients and fellow coaches this week about the emotional challenges of this time of year.

I can certainly feel the effects of winter up here in Alaska (especially since I was just in warm and sunny Brazil last week)!
Up here in the North it’s cold and dark, and, as a result, less physical and emotional energy are available.

Plus, we have the pandemic still simmering in the background. And lots of social and political stress with no end in sight…

In Ayurvedic terms, all of these elements aggravate the vata doshas.

Vata is all about groundedness and a sense of safety. When it’s balanced you feel confident, focused  and in touch with your highest vision of yourself

Imbalanced vata shows up as:

• Exhaustion
• Overwhelm
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Physical dryness (skin, digestive system)
• Feeling stuck in your life

If you resonate with any of the above, know you’re not alone. It’s totally normal to experience these imbalances right now.

Feeling disappointed in yourself or fighting against how you feel (because you “should” be able to be as productive as usual or because you “have so much to do”), can deplete your precious energy stores even more.

The more you can gently accept and meet yourself where you’re at – and make decisions from there – the easier it’s going to feel to navigate this period.

Self-coaching questions:

• What stories do you have right now about what you should and shouldn’t be doing? What would change if you let go of them?
• How can you best support yourself as you are (your energy, your mental health) right now?

If you’d like some additional support, I can help. I’m enrolling 5 clients this holiday season for private coaching. If you’d like to know more about how I can help you, you can send me a message with the word “support”.