Softening into Spring

Navigating life's ebbs and flows with intention.

Throughout the first quarter of the year, I've been sharing intentional monthly themes to explore and connect with. These themes serve as a vehicle for sharing what it means to live with intention, offering insights into the tools, practices, and lessons I embrace along the way.

This month, I had planned to share ‘An Abundant April’. A theme that seemed fitting with the arrival of Spring and something I’m keen to explore in depth as I have chosen abundance as my word of the year. Plus, who doesn't love a little alliteration, right? However, as April arrived, I found myself feeling far from abundant.

Sometimes, living intentionally can look like having an awarenesses of what we need more of in our lives and making adjustments accordingly. But then, there are the times when it becomes more import to to slow down and take stock. Rather than forge ahead and embrace the new seasons’s energy I have been feeling called to spend this month reflecting on, and integrating my intentions from the year so far.

---

Finding beauty in the ebbs

In pausing, I could see that I'd been in an energetic ebb for a little while. I’ve been feeling a strong need to focus inward rather than outward, not necessarily lacking in creative inspiration but feeling very little desire or capacity to show up and share.

These kinds of slumps can feel so uncomfortable while we’re sitting in them, but these last few weeks I’ve really worked on trusting that the ebb I’ve been feeling is just a natural part of being a creative, a mama...a human. The necessary wintering before the spring, the inhale before a sigh of release, the tide rolling in, the bud waiting to bloom.

And typically the more I leaned into acceptance, the more I began to find the beauty in the ebb. I've found solace in softening—softening my expectations, my judgments, and my resistance. What we we resist, persists, as they say.

Welcoming the flow

So having rode out the ebb, here comes the flow right? Well…I sure hope so, but I guess I’ll see. Living a life of intention doesn't mean having all the answers or always being in control, but rather it's about embracing the uncertainty, the discomfort, and the vulnerability that come with the journey.

Ultimately, navigating life's ebbs and flows requires trust. If this latest ebb has been reminding me of the importance of surrendering and simply allowing myself to be, then surely I have to do my best to apply the same mindset for welcoming in the flow.

That is all to say - I’m not going to force it! However, I can feel a shift, a sense of renewed energy, an inclination to take action and put plans into motion. I know there are things I can do to support myself through a more outward focused season, but I’m doing so with a whole lot of grace. The winter has been long, it’s okay for me to take my time emerging. 🦋