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Everyday Better with Leah Smart

Wintering: How to Weather Difficult Times

Dec 24, 2024
Katherine May, author of *Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times*, shares her journey through personal challenges and the importance of embracing life’s metaphorical winters. She discusses the need for rest and reflection, highlighting how vulnerability fosters growth. The conversation also explores alternative winter solstice celebrations, emphasizing mindfulness and self-care. May advocates for accepting change and processing emotions, urging listeners to find joy and community even in tough times.
44:27

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Wintering encourages individuals to embrace difficult phases as vital opportunities for introspection, healing, and eventual personal growth.
  • Sharing personal stories and fostering honest dialogue during challenging times can transform hardships into avenues for connection and understanding.

Deep dives

Embracing the Wintering Process

Wintering is a metaphorical experience that encompasses periods of difficulty, isolation, and introspection in life. It often arises due to crises such as mental health struggles, significant life changes, or deep personal challenges that leave individuals feeling disconnected. During such times, individuals may perceive themselves as stuck, believing that they're uniquely suffering while others carry on with life. The discussion emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and respecting these wintering phases as essential components of one’s life journey that offer opportunities for healing and eventual growth.

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