The wonderful energy of summer, the season that makes us all tingle with life, is quietly slipping away. As the rain gradually soaks our skin and the streets, of course we’re affected too. Yes, summer was lovely — the sea, the sand, the sun — but we’re saying goodbye to all that until next year… Every season has its own beauty. But I want you to become even more beautiful despite the end of summer — because this world needs happy people more than ever. We need smiling faces and shining eyes around us — in other words, we need you and your wonderful energy.
Are you one of those who say, “Happiness in winter? Winter means sadness, melancholy”? Really? Then I’m sorry — this is where we part ways. You can carry on sharing depressing quotes on social media; maybe a few people will say “oh, poor you.” Or you can listen to your more positive side and make this winter more beautiful and happier than any other time in your life. If you really want to, of course…
If you’re still reading, I think you’ve made up your mind. You’re a tougher nut than I expected — congratulations! Now that the undecided have stopped reading, it’s just us. So let’s begin!
Autumn and Winter Are Seasons of Renewal, Not Sadness
Let’s start by changing how we perceive winter. Many of us think of sad songs, break-ups, dry leaves falling to the ground and tears. You experience winter the way you perceive it. If you like, you can watch the rain and dwell on how lonely, unhappy and pitiful you are, reaching for a tissue to dry your tears. Or you can see winter as an opportunity for brand-new beginnings and recreate yourself from scratch. Because nature’s purpose in winter isn’t to make you sad, crush you or plunge you into depression. Nature’s purpose is to renew itself, to prepare for the next spring, to clean, purify and rejuvenate itself! That’s what winter is for!
How about taking inspiration from nature and starting right now to renew, cleanse, purify and rejuvenate yourself?
First, Set Your Goals
Setting goals is the beginning of everything, and our goals should be as clear as possible. Vague goals produce vague results. When this winter is over, exactly where do you want to be? By the first day of spring, what would you like to have achieved? What weight would you like to be? Where do you want to be in your career? How much do you want to be earning? How much do you want to have saved? How do you want your health, social life and knowledge to look? What kind of relationship do you want with your friends and family? And with your partner? If you don’t have one and would like to, write down clearly what kind of relationship you want as one of your goals. You can keep your goals in a file on your computer, or write them on a nice sheet of paper. Share them with at least one person you know, trust and love, and ask them to keep you accountable. But whatever happens, from today I want you to read these goals again every morning — every single morning, without exception — and take steps towards them that day. Simply looking at your goals every morning will inspire you, help you come up with new ideas, motivate you even more and boost your happiness hormones. As you look at your goals and take steps towards them, you’ll be forming wonderful neural connections in your brain, and your subconscious will start working for you instead of against you, making it much easier to get what you want.
Take Care of Yourself
In the rush of daily life, we can neglect ourselves. If even a computer — even a phone — needs maintenance and updates, shouldn’t we look after ourselves? Of course we should — and in the best, most wonderful way! I’ve explained why and how to take care of yourself in my article Taking Care of Yourself. If you haven’t read it yet, take five minutes to do so.
Use Winter as an Opportunity
The rush and bustle of summer are behind us. As the weather cools and the wonderful sound of rain patters on our windows, we tend to slow down, relax and settle. If we use it well, this is actually a wonderful opportunity. As our movements slow and our mood calms, our brainwaves tend to move towards the relaxed, alert “alpha” state.
Why does that matter? Because that relaxed state is when the mind is most open to learning, trying new things, creativity and art. So this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more, try more, do more creative work, find more creative solutions and set more amazing goals — in short, to grow.
Instead of sitting at home in your trusty depression cardigan binge-watching series, reading inspiring books, following articles, watching videos and taking notes — with some gentle music and a cup of tea or coffee — will now be easier, more enjoyable and more rewarding than ever. Remember: ordinary people have big televisions; extraordinary people have big libraries… Which group do you want to be in?
Today, nature is offering us a wonderful opportunity for growth once again. Do you want this winter to be different, more wonderful, more successful and happier? Do you want to remember this winter as a turning point?
Then take a step today that your future self will thank you for!