Creative Wellness Letters - Are you embracing slowness? 🐌

Hi Reader,

Happy December to you! 

This time of year can be overwhelming for many reasons, especially with the conflict between holiday season activities and pressure and the instinct to turn inward with decreasing energy from seasonal cues like increasing darkness and cold (for us Northern Hemisphere folks).

I always have a hard time with these opposing forces, but when I bring some intentionality to how I approach December, I’m much better able to handle everything. My month is feeling full, with extra holiday concerts and events on top of all of the usual coaching and music stuff, so, to counter that, I’m lightening my load where I can (with a podcast break and not taking on any new projects until January).

This late fall / winter season usually gives me that deep instinct to slow down, pause, reflect, etc., so it’s on my mind at the moment, but embracing slowness can be helpful at any time of year. You might be in a metaphorical winter - a time of lower energy and contraction - in literal summer, and need the extra time and space.

I would love to provide you with a handy dandy formula for calculating exactly how much energy you’ll have for each activity and creative project, but it’s mostly about checking in with yourself regularly, gathering feedback about what’s currently working.

I’m certainly not perfect at knowing when I have to slow down, either! On Wednesday, I was supposed to play a gig at a restaurant in my neighborhood, and I got a headache that really took me down, so I had to cancel. I thought that I had enough energy to do the show, but my body told me otherwise - such is life. Also, this newsletter didn’t quite come out on Monday like I’d planned, so fitting!

It’s so tempting to reject the idea of slowness in favor of the pull toward urgency and productivity, whether consciously or not, but it usually catches up with us in the form of burnout or sickness. <insert sad trombone sound here>

We don't have infinite amounts of energy, we have cycles of energy.

In other words, embrace the slowness, or it will probably embrace you!

If the idea of slowness seems impossible, and you’re thinking, “I can't slow everything down. I can't just cancel everything,” I hear you!

When you’re in a time of less energy, there are always small ways to replenish yourself, which might have bigger results than you’d think.

Some of my favorite ways of embracing slowness (which can all be done in short amounts of time if that’s all you have):

• Taking quiet time to journal or just think, making space to tune into your intuition / creative muse / whatever makes you feel like your truest self
• Sit down at the piano and see what feels good to play, with no other goal in mind
• Make a cozy area to spend time in (I’m making a cozy corner with lots of ridiculously soft pillows, or on the couch under a blanket is good, too)
• Spend time in nature, observing my surroundings
• Embracing JOMO (the joy of missing out) rather than FOMO (fear of missing out)
• Doing a gut check on each project or activity coming up to see if I wholeheartedly still want to do it
  • If it’s not something I can opt out of, asking myself how I can bring my best energy to it anyway or make it more palatable
  • If it is something I can opt out of, asking myself how long of a break I need from it
• Taking small energy-replenishing breaks between activities whenever possible

If you’re with me on feeling a pull toward a slower pace right now, know that it’s a very normal feeling at this time of year, and if you ever need someone to help justify needing to slow down or take more breaks, I'm always here for you!

Are you embracing slowness in this season? Do you wish you could do more or less right now? I'd love to hear your reflections!

Stay well, my friends - I'm always rooting for you. My inbox is always open, so please feel free to reach out if I can help in any way. 

I always love hearing from you!

Have a lovely week! ⁠

Rebecca

• When you're overwhelmed, simplify | Zen Habits - Very in line with today's topic! 

Leaving it at that - one link also seems fitting.

• E70: Embracing Slowness Instead of Urgency

• E69: Self Improvement, Artistic Growth + Feeling You're Good Enough
  

As artists, we are constantly practicing and growing, whether we feel negatively or positively about it, or bouncing between both! It can be tricky to continually pursue personal and artistic growth while also believing that you are enough as you are.

I share about my journey with self improvement, from reading all the self help books to trusting my inner guidance and everywhere in between, along with tips for embracing incremental and sustainable change and trusting your own wisdom.

Join us in Compassionate Creativity Coworking Club 

(Your first session is free to try!)

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• Rise Above the Overwhelm: laser-focused 1-time sessions

• Creative Season (3 month package)