I’m thankful for this time to push pause and explore beauty, rest, and learning together. I’d love for you to share this email with a friend you think might enjoy it too!
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In the Northern hemisphere we are closing out spring and dipping our toes into summer. Seasons shift and give way to new rhythms and so it goes with us. Whether we notice or not, we enter the season in one way and emerge changed.
This season of spring 2020 that we are closing the door on has been particularly shaping for most of us. I recently took the time to read through a few pages in my journal that I’ve recorded since March and good gracious we have had a time! We have walked through the serious events of a pandemic, economic upheaval in our communities, and facing new hurts of racial injustices. And these are just the shared experiences! We collectively have been changed through this season and we are not the same society we were before March.
In addition, you have encountered your own personal struggles and changes. You’ve faced doubts and hard questions along with shifts in how you work, parent, educate, and basically every other facet of life. The changes of this season have been sweeping. While we may be eager to move on to a new season in life both literally and figuratively, in our hurry we may miss the steps of progress we’ve taken or the lessons we’ve learned along the way. There is value in pausing to look at how we’ve journeyed and reflecting on the past. Reflection helps us grow and glean from the experiences of the season.
Reflecting on our experiences and noticing the changes within us doesn’t mean we’ll wrap this spring up with a tidy bow. At the end of the day, spring of 2020 may very well be one you don’t want to remember. That’s OK! You’re allowed to feel that. Reflecting though can bring some closure to the wounds of the season, the unmet expectations, and the losses you’ve grieved as well as helping you see what good may have gotten covered along the way. This practice of reflection may also stir more compassion for yourself and others for the ways you’ve been present, made progress, or simply kept going despite the hard days. Giving yourself space to close out one season can prepare you to welcome the next with more openness and resilience.
A Resource
Why You Should Make Time for Self-reflection (even if you hate doing it)- The Harvard Business Review - While written through a business lens, there’s good information for why reflection matters and how to start reflection practices.
Emily P. Freeman’s podcast - A Beginner’s Guide to Self-reflection (episode 84)
Her voice and leading in soulful conversations is always a delight and this episode has a lot to offer in less than 20 minutes!
A Practice
Give yourself space for reflecting on this past season. Do it in a way that feels natural to you. Sit with your thoughts, write in a journal, or share with a trusted friend.
Here are 5 guiding questions for reflection:
What experiences or events were hard or most challenging? How did you respond? Do you notice any patterns or something that sparks your curiosity in your responses?
What were moments of joy and delight in this past season?
In what ways or experiences do you feel like you connected to God, others, and yourself?
What are you glad to be leaving behind in this season?
What do you want to carry with you into the next season?
One of the best gifts from these weekly emails is when I hear from you! I would love for you to share one thing you’ve learned from this season. You can hit reply or share in the comments. Thanks for reading! -Lindsay