Embracing Winter as a Mindset Shift: Finding Our Choice and Letting Go of Powerlessness

emdrtherapy mindset powerlessness vermont

Winter often feels tough—gray skies, short days, and low energy. But what if we stopped resisting it? What if we saw winter as a time for growth?

In a recent TIME article, I talked about embracing winter as a mindset shift. Instead of dreading the season, we can use it to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves. This idea also applies to healing—whether through EMDR therapy, personal growth, or mentorship.

Finding Our Choice in Difficult Times

Stress and trauma often make us feel powerless. Whether it’s childhood pain, difficult relationships, or everyday stress, we can feel stuck. But healing begins when we find our choice—small but powerful moments when we take action, change our perspective, or create new possibilities.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy helps us regain that choice. It allows us to process past experiences so they don’t control us anymore. With EMDR therapy, we can rewrite painful memories, reduce emotional distress, and move forward with confidence.

Letting Go of Powerlessness

Just like winter gives nature time to rest and reset, we can do the same. Many of my clients—especially high-achieving women carrying intergenerational trauma—struggle with control. They feel they always need to do more.

But healing isn’t about holding on tighter. It’s about letting go of powerlessness. Through EMDR mentorship, I help therapists and clients explore how to step out of limiting beliefs and into new, empowering ways of thinking. Healing isn’t about ignoring pain—it’s about working through it so we can move forward.

Winter as a Metaphor for Healing

Winter teaches us:

  • Slowing down isn’t failure—it’s preparation.

  • Rest isn’t weakness—it’s necessary for growth.

  • Darkness doesn’t mean the end—it’s where new beginnings take root.

If you feel stuck or powerless, ask yourself: What if this season isn’t about enduring but about evolving?

Whether through EMDR, mentorship, or mindful reflection, healing is about finding our choice and letting go of powerlessness—so we can discover the strength that was always inside us.

To explore more tips on how I embrace a winter mindset, especially living here in Vermont, check out the TIME.