Nature’s Gentle Invitation: Why Embracing All Your Seasons is the Ultimate Self-Care

January often comes with the pressure to reinvent ourselves, to be completely new, better versions of who we were last year. But what if the greatest act of self-care this year was simply to embrace all of who you already are?

when I read this quote from the writer and poet Gretel Ehrlich: "Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are." it made me pause and consider what those words conjure up for me.

As an artist inspired by nature 🌿, I find the quote profoundly comforting. It reminds me that just like the landscapes I admire, I am not meant to be one fixed thing. I am constantly changing, growing, and maturing with the seasons.

Let Go of the Fixed Image

As individuals we often get labelled with, or feel pressure to choose, a single identity: the carer, the organiser, the wild adventurer, the quiet one. But we should be open to growth and change, it’s ok to be more than one thing.

Nature demonstrates this to us beautifully, it is a masterpiece of contradictions:

• A wild storm followed by the quiet peace of a still morning.
• The vibrant, undeniable joy of a summer wildflower next to the still beauty of a winter forest.
• A raging river and a calm, deep pool.

These are all accepted parts of the whole.

Just like nature, you can be fierce and free one day, and peaceful and reflective the next. You can be grieving a loss while simultaneously planning a new adventure. Embrace your individuality. These different stages and energies are what make you human.

The Quiet Power of the Pause

To truly hear this invitation to "be what we are," we must first pause. This is why getting out in nature is such a vital act of self-care, it provides space for reflection.

When you allow yourself a moment of silence in a garden, on a beach, or beneath a vast sky, you remember a simple truth: You are a part of something bigger.

In that quiet space, the expectations and noise of the world begin to dissolve. You are invited to let go of all that does not truly serve you. The relentless need for perfection, the worries about other people’s opinions, the outdated roles you feel obligated to play.

• Action for Growth: When you are outside, consciously observe the stage you are at, the now. Are you in a winter of rest? A spring of new beginnings? A vibrant summer of activity? Simply acknowledge it without judgment.

Be Kind and Welcoming to All Parts of Yourself

If we look at life through the lens of nature’s seasons, we realise that every stage, regardless of age, priority, or dream, is essential. You are not just one number or one role; you are all of the seasons you have lived, and all the ones yet to come.

This year, practice self-care for growth by consciously extending the kindness and acceptance you give to others, to yourself:

• Welcome the Wild: Don't dismiss the parts of you that are energetic, restless, or seeking change.
• Nurture the Calm: Don't rush or judge the parts of you that need rest, solace, or reflection.
• Honour the Past: Realise that every experience - the challenges, the grief, the joy - has matured you.

My art, inspired by the resilience and enduring peace of the landscape, is created as a gentle reminder. It’s an invitation to bring nature’s healing beauty home, turning your space into a sanctuary where all parts of you are welcome.

This January, let's step away from the pressure of perfection and step into the freedom of authenticity.

View my calming art prints here.