Winter

“Winter time. Nature seems vast a sleep. Migratory birds leave the Netherlands to seek a warmer place to stay. Trees look like skeletons at first sight. Then my eyes catch a branch full of buds. Behind the façade of sleep, transformation takes place and the promise of springtime, of new life, can be witnessed”.

Winter is a period of transition. Nature bids farewell to what no longer serves and prepares itself to bring forth new life. Even though not visible at first from the outside, a new beginning emerges slowly but steadily. Oftentimes the winter season is undervalued by people. In Europe winter comes with coldness, grey colours and short periods of daylight. Therefore we often tug in and seek shelter inside or at warmer place. Irrespective of this automatic response, the natural process of transformation also works inside each of us. Just as an example: at the end of every year we take stock and set good intentions for the new year. The quiet of winter time serves to clearly see what we have to let go to create space to let new awakenings take place. To prepare ourselves to bring forth new life, or new beginnings, in springtime. Winter time is a silent and enriching season!

At the end of December, I spend days in nature to hike in the basin of the scenic IJssel river in the Netherlands. I reflected on the past and on the chapter as entrepreneur and coach in front. One of the insights I harvested was a re-valuation of the winter season as nursery of new beginnings.

Personally, I once again experienced the power of nature in the Austrian mountains last summer. During a hike, I suddenly realized the time had come to leave my job behind and start a new adventure as entrepreneur and coach. The desire to guide professionals towards more meaningful work was simply too overwhelming. Perhaps you recognize these sudden insights? A moment or experience in which everything becomes very clear and that contains an enormous energy. A moment in which you realize you have to get in motion, even though the road and even the final destination are less clear. These moments of insight can also be experienced during crisis or after an intriguing encounter. These moments contain the energy to set things in motion that have been solid as a rock before. These moments fall upon us when we are open to receive. During silence, a hike, or when meditating.

These moments are special and deserve to be cherished. They cannot be explained with rational thought, but their energy unleashes incredible power. These moments can be frightening too. Because, what will you do with this new insight? Do you dare to own the experience, and explore what it wants to tell you, what needs to transform in you? Or alternatively, will you neglect it and continue with the day to day activities? The latter is convenient, because keeping things as is provides security. Whether you like the current situation or not, it is perfectly clear what you have while it is not clear what you will get if you dare to listen to the new insight.

This moment of insight, of inner knowing, could be the starting point of a transformation in your life. For me it led to saying goodbye to a good job in pursuit of realizing my mission. Listening to your inner voice doesn’t have to lead to a departure though. Be open and share your desires. Oftentimes there are possibilities within the job or organisation to grow the seed inside of you. It needs to be nurtured and cared for to let it come to full bloom.

Most important is to listen to what the insight asks from you and to have the courage to explore and built sufficient trust to act. That what is vastly asleep in you, may be awakened and flourish. Sometimes you can need a little help in such a process.

On the way to a new spring!

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