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Tuesday, January 10, 2017

"Il faut toujours un Hiver pour bercer un Printemps"


 Many of us have trouble accepting the fact that we ought to decrease our activities during winter, as we live in a society where working less is equivalent to being weak.  Also, professional and societal rhythms and demands do not slow down during winter.
However, if we learn to respect our own rhythms of rest and work, we will be more productive.  Many people spend long hours working at their desk, but a decent portion of those hours is unproductive and would be better spent resting, thus allowing for more to be done later.
Winter is the time of the year for letting go and withdrawing.  It represents the irrepressible need for rest, as per the annual cycle.  In our daily lives, we must respect the interplay of work and rest, along with the rhythms of the year’s activities.
Consider these two fates: that of a military commander, the strategic genius, versus the kamikaze.  The first wins their battles with the least loss of human life, while the second gives their life up by crashing into a target.

Studying, reading, learning

Winter is traditionally the time for studying subjects that are interesting, reading, self-cultivation and developing knowledge.
Often, we do not devote enough time to our interests in our daily routine.  Winter is the perfect time for dedicating time to this.  During the rest of the year, take note of subjects you find interesting, books that attract you, and put them aside until winter comes.
Compile all the things that interest you into a list at the end of autumn and the start of winter in order to develop a syllabus for learning and discovery.

“Doing less in winter does not mean doing nothing.  It is the time for learning.”

Going out less, receiving more

Winter is neither the time for going out a lot, nor for meeting new people.  The season is best for spending time with our closest relationships, whether family or friends.  Invite them to come over, converse with them about any and every thing, and take advantage of the long winter nights to get to know these loved ones better.

“Winter is not the season for going out, but that for having close friends in our homes.”

Getting ready for spring

During this active hibernation, think back over the year that is about to come to a close, and make sure what we did lines up with what we wanted to do.
This analysis prepares the ground for spring, and therefore the coming year, by making sure we are on the right track to becoming who we want to be.  By examining ourselves thusly, we can track our evolution and our expectations with regard to our lives.
By adapting our vision of things and ourselves to the coming year, we prepare for the right kind of self-development and daily routine.
If we have trouble reflecting on these things objectively, turn to others you trust and ask them for their advice and help.
You can also seek out a mentor or teacher that has already guided you, to get help with your research.
The strength of our personal development lies in our efforts that we actually undertake.

“The retreat that comes with winter is not a dead period, but a time of active preparation for the year to come.”


Choosing a different rhythm

The creative force from the beginning of the year feeds off the energy that accumulates during the calm winter.  The more we take this period seriously, the more we successfully shape our choices for the coming year.
To ensure that we make the right choices, we must know which direction we seek to go in, in addition to how much intensity to put into each effort.
By conserving our strength in order to avoid exhaustion, and by searching profoundly for what we need, we can really prepare for a productive and intelligent new year.
Like a sprinter preparing for a big race, we must rest and concentrate our will on the action to come.
These preparations are often more important than the actions themselves.  Many athletes, especially fighters, speak of how much harder the training and conditioning is than the competitions themselves.
This preparatory period is demanding, but without it, the athletes would not be primed for competition.

Working more at home

If possible, winter is a great time for work as much as we can at home.  Our work will benefit from the peace of our own home, or another location where we feel at ease.
Winter is not a good time for brainstorming in groups.  Instead, we must make decision by ourselves.  Our work will also be better if we do it alone.
For solo working and thinking, stay at home or disengage from your environment.
It is possible to become isolated and focused on yourself and your thoughts amidst a hurricane: this all depends on your state of mind.
If you are focused on your work and the problems that need to be solved, the external ambiance becomes a white noise, a murmur that no longer distracts.

“Isolated but not alone, we work actively, just like the energy of winter.”

Meeting and sharing

If we need to work alone, we must also meet with those close to us.  We can plan gatherings or regular meet ups which allow us to connect a bit with those who are important to us.

“In order not to suffocate, we must condition and motivate ourselves, uncover our goals and create a strategy for the coming year.”

Our introspection can extend to include our circle of family and closest friends.  This sharing helps balance the retreat from the world.  Do not turn to the people outside of your circle, unlike in spring; focus on your intimate relations.

“In spring, energy expands outwards towards the new, so we can test and discover.  In winter everything contracts, to enhance and share.”

Doing, but not excessively

End of year parties give plenty of excuses for excess.  However, these do not align with the spirit of winter, as it is the time of year when we are most fragile.  We must instead pay close attention to what we eat, and arrange our lives to be free of excess.
In this introspective and reflective period, our awareness must be free so that we can be efficient.  Our diet must be adapted to the season, full of vigorous vitality.
We must thus enter a ‘saving’ mode, and respect our body abused by the cold.  We must sleep enough, by going to bed at a reasonable time.  The time we spend doing things must be useful and deliberate.  By doing what needs to be done in our daily routine, all the while sparing our strength, we conserve the important energy that is precious to our health.

Enjoy the end of Winter and be ready for an incredible learning year of Ding You !

Learn Something in 2017 !!!