We're making our way to winter solstice, or heading into the darkness. I love this time in some ways - I love twinkly lights, dusky walks in wooded trails, and listening inward as I prepare to wrap up the calendar year.

But at this time of year people are also tired and sometimes emotionally reactive. In this episode I share one of my favourite quotes along with a couple key things to pay attention to for your benefit and that of everyone around you.

Then I share with you how a practice of seasonal living helps you befriend yourself and build self-trust.

The Intention Setting Workshop*free today and tomorrow when you join the B+B Community or Life Visioning Course: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/intention-setting-workshop/

Join the Brave + Beautiful Community Winter Session: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/community/

Mentioned in this episode:

Seasonal Living clip

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, resentful, or disconnected during the holidays, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, I share practical strategies for being on your own side throughout the holiday season—without abandoning your needs or losing yourself in the chaos. You'll learn why I recommend setting a clear intention that helps you honour your boundaries and stay empowered rather than falling into old patterns of people-pleasing or self-neglect.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• How setting a clear intention for the holidays helps you quiet the noise, focus on what truly matters, and release unnecessary pressure or expectations.
• The difference between what's yours to carry and what belongs to other people—and how to stop getting pulled into other people's drama or emotions.
• Why the story "I have to" keeps you disempowered, and how owning your power of choice (even when it feels uncomfortable) brings you back into agency.
• Simple strategies for preparing yourself before holiday events, including identifying regulating strategies for when you get activated, pre-deciding your boundaries, and building in daily rest and recovery time.
• How to be honest about internal conflict without shame—and why truth-telling is the pathway to integrity, empowerment, and ultimately more freedom and joy.

Being on your own side during the holidays isn't selfish—it's the foundation for showing up regulated, present, and truly able to create the experiences you actually want.

Begin your year on purpose. Take a look at the January Intention Setting Workshop: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/intention-setting-workshop/

In this episode, I explore what it means to truly be on your own side and why this shifts everything else in life. The truth is, if you can't accept yourself today, you won't magically do so tomorrow. The goal line just keeps moving.

By the end of this episode, you'll understand:

• Why everything in life feels lighter and easier when you're on your own side.
• How being on your own side builds self-trust and helps your inner critic finally relax.
• Real examples of what becomes possible when you're on your own side: setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, trusting your body's wisdom, and asking for support, for example.
• Why self-acceptance isn't about lowering standards—it's about creating the foundation for real growth.

This isn't about perfection or pretending. It's about choosing to love yourself now, show up for yourself now, and stop abandoning yourself or rejecting any part of yourself. Because who you are is needed.

Sign up for the free Befriend Yourself Workshop: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/befriend-yourself-workshop/