Spring Reflection: Focus on Future Possibilities
Spring is upon us. Unlike other seasons, spring appears suddenly in a wash of colors between sunny and stormy days. It reminds us to wake up out of our winter daze to focus on future possibilities. I will admit that there have been years when I just wasn’t ready for the arrival of spring. From the start of daylight savings time to deciding if it’s time to put away the winter coat, the arrival of spring made me want a few more quiet weeks of winter. It's often a time of year when I want more time to think.
The delicate tension between winter and spring deserves further reflection. Compare it to summer which starts with glorious warm days and builds to the heat of August. Or fall, that starts with sweater weather and slowly drops to winter one leaf at time. Spring assaults us with the inevitability of change. It demands our attention with longer days and forgotten flowers popping up near the front door. And in the face of so much change, we are forced to examine what we are holding too tightly.
The poem, Risk, by Anais Nin speaks to the moment when the risk of not embracing the new carries more risk than hanging onto the past. What have you been procrastinating about? What are the risks that are slowing your movement to change? And, what’s the risk of remaining “tight in a bud”? At the heart of this poem, is the invitation to notice when the paralysis brought by the fear of risk holds us in a bind.
Risk
By Anais Nin
And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to blossom.
Journal Prompts
Try these journal prompts for shaking off what you are holding too tightly:
List three things you completed over the winter. Celebrate those accomplishments with stickers or drawings. Use colored pencils, markers or crayons.
Write three words that describe spring for you.
List three things you commit to doing this spring. For example, add movement goals, cook healthy meals, put time for friends or family on the calendar.
Consider if there is anything holding you back. Write about it for one minute. Fold over the page in your journal. Start with a new blank page tomorrow.
connect with anna
Coaching is a transformative experience, and Anna works to help any leader, at any stage, uncover their innate wisdom. Through your own reflection and intentions for this year, are you ready to reconnect with your purpose and power? Book a time for a free discovery call with Anna to learn more.
about anna & executive horizons
Anna Alvarez Boyd, is the founder of Executive Horizons LLC, a consulting and leadership coaching business. Anna brings over 30 years of experience as a trusted senior leader to her clients. Her coaching starts with the belief that every individual is talented, creative and whole. She supports clients to deeper self-discovery, through a unique, tailored approach for each person that includes skill building, reflective practices and leadership development.