When the Days Grow Shorter, Grow Deeper
When the Days Grow Shorter, Grow Deeper
By Rachel Parsons, Heart Harbor Coaching
As we settle into this season of longer nights and busy days, I offer a gentle invitation to embrace what this time of year presents.
The busy days—the hustle and the noise—are just that: noise.
The long nights and early darkness, however, don’t signal a retreat; they invite us to turn inward.
When the light fades sooner, we often perceive it as a loss.
But what if this season is not working against us at all?
What if it’s working with us?
Nature reminds us that care and restoration are not luxuries—they’re necessities.
Animals hibernate.
Birds migrate to new places.
Trees settle into deep rest.
The darkness arrives long before we feel ready, but it comes with a purpose.
This time of year offers a natural pause—a moment of emotional slack tide. It brings a gentle, persistent quiet that invites us to check in with ourselves, to pause long enough to notice what we’ve been too busy to see, and to reconnect with who we are and what we need on a deeper level.
This season reminds us that we are not meant to be “on” all the time. We don’t have to bloom in every season, and we don’t need to solve everything at full speed. The natural world cycles through restoration, reflection, and gentle recalibration—and so should we. Not because we are failing, but because we are human.
When we allow even a moment of stillness, something shifts.
The noise softens.
Our thoughts slow down.
In that quieter space, a different kind of clarity arises—one that comes from listening inward rather than pushing harder.
Just as a tree strengthens its roots in winter, we can strengthen our inner footing by choosing to pause.
So, as the days grow shorter, allow yourself to grow deeper.
Listen to the parts of you that have been waiting to speak.
Check in with your inner compass.
Honor both your weariness and your hope.
A Quick Reflection Exercise
The Slack-Tide Self Check-In
1. Find a quiet moment.
Take a few minutes of stillness—at your desk, in your room, or even in the car before heading inside. Sit or lie comfortably. Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply three times, letting each inhale go a little deeper and each exhale grow a little longer. Then return to a natural breath and turn your attention inward.
2. Notice your inner season.
Gently ask yourself:
What part of me feels tired right now?
What part of me is asking for care?
What part of me feels ready to grow next?
3. Choose one small act of alignment.
Complete this sentence:
“This season, I would feel more like myself if I…”
4. Let that be enough.
This season isn’t about doing more.
It’s about listening more deeply.
