The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?
Jack Kornfield
Year after year, Spring tends to awaken new excitement and optimism about what the future holds.
And yet, for some of us, this season is fraught with complex– sometimes surprising– emotions that can feel oddly out of place amid all the flowers and sunshine.
If you’re feeling like you’ve missed the springtime memo, this post is for you.
Today we’re highlighting 5 surprising feelings you (or someone you know) might be experiencing as we head into Spring:
1. Irritability
With all the focus on rebirth and renewal, it can be frustrating to acknowledge that you’re actually feeling kind of… irritable. If that’s you, try not to stress about it; it’s perfectly natural to feel a variety of complex emotions, regardless of the season. The important thing is to pay attention to what’s typical for you and get curious about any notable changes you’re noticing.
Try this:
- Tune in to your emotions and note any seasonal mood changes
- Plan ahead for instances of “cabin fever”
2. Overwhelm / underwhelm
From home renovations to family vacations, this can be a time of upheaval at home and comparison to those outside our home. Fortunately, much of the frustrations and tensions we feel can be traced back to our perspective, not to what’s actually happening around us. Now’s an excellent time to initiate some thoughtful conversations with the other members of your household, to help navigate and shape expectations for this season.
Try this:
- Find simple wellness-boosting activities to try as a family this spring
- Plan your spring break with emotional wellness in mind
3. Resentment
Once the rush of the holidays and all of the new year, new you-ness has died down, you might be noticing a certain heaviness. As if you’re carrying an invisible load of emotional baggage. Ever considered giving your internal life the same level of spring cleaning as you do your physical space? From letting go of what’s no longer serving you to freeing up space for people and pursuits that truly light you up, don’t neglect this opportunity to do some essential emotional upkeep.
Try this:
- Commit to doing a little emotional spring cleaning this season
4. Boredom
Whether it’s a growing sense of apathy or a mild indifference about day-to-day decisions, you might be surprised to find yourself feeling a bit bored lately. If that’s the case, there’s no need to seek complex solutions. Sometimes it’s as simple as inviting some fresh inspiration into your daily routine!
Try this:
- Create space in your schedule to explore a new (or favorite) creative outlet
5. Grief
Spring can be especially challenging when you’re grieving. As the weather warms and the earth begins to blossom, feelings of sadness and depression can deepen as those around you seem happier and excited to enjoy the warmer weather. Our pain can intensify as the change of season brings on memories of the people who are no longer with us or of times when we were happier.
Try this:
- Familiarize yourself with some of the (often surprising) signs of grief and loss
- Consider connecting with a group for support (see below) as you navigate this experience
Looking for Support Coping with a Stressful Life Transition?
We’re pleased to announce a new group, hosted by Alejandra Aschittino-Rodriguez, LADC, Post-Master’s Fellow.
This group at Sonder Behavioral Health and Wellness is a place to create a community to connect with, to work through grief with and to support one another along the way. The group will provide you with a safe space to better understand your unique grief and to develop coping strategies to address the psychological and social impacts grief can have in your life. The group is for anyone who has lost a loved one OR who has gone through a change in their life that has caused them to be unsure about who they are or their place in the world.
This group will run Mondays (5:30pm to 7:00pm) beginning March 9th and ending April 27th.
Space is limited. If you’re interested, please email candace@sonderwellness.com.
From Alejandra:
Hi! My name is Alejandra Aschittino-Rodriguez, and I will be running this group. I am a licensed counselor with a Master of Arts in Addiction and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Minnesota.
I have extensive education and experience in grief counseling, including working with adults, adolescents, couples, and families in a private practice setting, creating an intensive training program around grief associated with COVID-19, and participating in a research project examining the effects culture has on grief.
I am excited to walk with you in this journey.
Enjoy this post? You might also like:
Holiday Boundary Setting: 3 Areas to Consider
Self-Compassion: 4 Ways to Start Practicing It Today
Therapy 101: Who Goes to Therapy?
Ready to connect with a therapist for support this Spring?