Jen’s Journey – Going Dormant

Remember, I say to myself as I try and fail to get motivated, it’s August. You’re dormant this month.

Going dormant is a practice that I’ve begun to develop within myself. And it started with a quote:

Be kind to yourself. Nothing in nature blooms all year.

When I read this for the first time, it stopped me in my tracks. I pride myself on following the ebb and flow of nature through the year, and reveling in Her beauty and power. But I had neglected to follow Her patterns this way within myself.

Why? Did I somehow feel like I was above the process of dormancy? No. But under the constant push-pull of business, life, and ambition, I sometimes forget to stop and take a breath. Remembering to has made me a better person.

Let me explain.

Flowers bloom, and we turn our heads to look. Their beauty looks…effortless. It’s the same with success. When we are at the top of our game, successful, feeling good, we shine like wide open flowers. It feels good. Conditions are optimal. We get noticed, we thrive.

Plants and flowers go dormant when growing conditions aren’t optimal. They temporarily slow down, but they don’t die; there is still life in the roots, and the plant comes back strong when conditions are better.

I’m not suggesting you go dormant every time adverse conditions present themselves. Rather, observe your own cycle, your own ‘seasons’, and notice when you often have the most trouble. For me, those months are usually February and August. Other people I’ve met say November is their dormant month. It doesn’t matter. When the body ebbs, it lets you know.

So what do I do to go dormant?

Change my language: My mantra is ‘I respect myself and what I need at this moment.’ This sets me up for success and keeps me focused on being kinder to myself.

Allow for (a lot) less productivity at home and at work. August and February are months where I coast a lot more. I’m not constantly innovating, planning, working extra. I allow a wider window of lazy moments.

Turn inward. I usually write a lot during these dormant periods, and much of it is introspection. How am I feeling? What have I learned? What do I want? Getting these feelings out and allowing them to be suspended between myself and my paper is so helpful.

Take vacation. Unplugging, guilt-free, from work and regular life is perfect timing during dormancy.

It’s not a perfect system. Going dormant does still involve living life, usually working, taking care of family, cleaning the house. The improvement of the process involves simply listening to your body’s cues about what it needs, and expecting less for awhile. Like everything, ebb and flow takes practice. But when you get it, your bloom comes back stronger and more beautiful than ever.