by Suzanne E. Sky, MTOM, Life Resilience Coach
Living In Harmony with the Seasons Nourishes Our Resilience
Most ancient wisdom and medicine traditions are rooted in the premise of all life, including humans, being part of (not separate from) the natural world. Chinese medicine, which has been around for thousands of years, records the wisdom and experience of philosophers, sages, and medical practitioners. They observe that by living in harmony with the seasons through specific lifestyle practices, we can nourish and support our resilience and well-being.
This ancient wisdom informs my own resilience building practices. Previously, I’ve shared different resilience practices I engage in throughout the year. These have included things like wintertime journaling, springtime revitalizing tea blends, and autumn practices for energy and breath. Honoring the wheel of the seasons and engaging in different activities throughout the year is good for me. I believe it could be good for you too!
I invite you to take a moment to reflect on your own life. How do your activities or attitudes shift with each change of season? Do you have different traditions or practices you engage in during each one? Humans evolved linked with the Earth, so many of our customs and habits are seasonal without our conscious intention. Your resilience building practices may already have more seasonal form than you realized!
Connecting with a seasonal approach to resilience means reconnecting to nature. There are enormous benefits to this. According to this article’s reports on the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing, “even as little as 15 minutes [spent reconnecting with nature] can help drop your blood pressure and improve mental clarity, as well as increase creativity.” Clearly, incorporating the outdoors into a seasonally-focused approach to resilience can open up new dimensions of wellness.
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers us many ideas for taking care of ourselves in alignment with the seasons. To maintain our health, Chinese Medicine advises that we must tend to our bodies and minds in ways that are attuned to the unique energies of each season. As a Life Resilience coach, I draw on my experience as a Chinese medicine practitioner for over 30 years to help clients establish routines, practices, and goals that provide helpful shape to a resilient life. Honoring the seasons and our changing needs throughout them is one important way we can do this work.
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