Today is the last day of December.

There’s often a quiet pause here—a moment where we look back at what this year held, and then glance ahead toward January.

And January often arrives with some sort of pressure...

New goals.
New habits.
New energy.
A sense that we should be doing more… faster… better.

But for a nervous system—especially one shaped by trauma—January doesn’t have to be full of hustle.

I invite us to some slowness.

Because slowness isn’t laziness.
Slowness isn’t avoidance.
Slowness is safety.

When life has taught your body that urgency equals survival, slowing down can feel uncomfortable—or even unsafe at first. Many of us learned to push, perform, and power through because slowing wasn’t an option.

So when January whispers, “Do more,” your body might already be bracing.

What if we listened to something different this year?

What if January became a month of repair instead of pressure?
Of befriending instead of fixing?
Of rest without needing to earn it?

What if your nervous system isn’t asking for a reset......
It’s asking for permission from within yourself....

Can it be OK to move slowly?
OK to feel what’s here without rushing past it?
OK to soften after months of holding it together?

Slowness gives your system time to:

• Notice sensations before they become overwhelm
• Rebuild trust after periods of hypervigilance
• Settle into safety instead of chasing regulation

And safety—real, felt safety—is what allows deeper healing to unfold.

I invite you to try this simple, slow practice (2 minutes) to welcome in a new view for January

You don’t need a big ritual. Just a pause.

1. Sit or stand somewhere comfortable.
2. Let your eyes gently soften or close.
3. Take one unforced breath in through your nose.
4. Exhale slowly through your mouth—longer than the inhale.
5. Place a hand on your chest, another on your belly and quietly ask:
   “What would slowness feel like right now?” No Fixing. No changing. Just noticing.
6. After you’ve listened to the answer—whether it comes as a story, a narrative, an image, a feeling, or a sensation—pause and ask:
   “What would love do with this information?”
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   How would you respond if a close friend told you the same thing?
   What tone would you use?
   What kindness or permission would you offer?
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   See if you can offer that response to yourself.
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There’s no right way to do this. Even a small gesture of kindness counts.

And If your body says, “I don’t know,”, offering “that’s okay”, is also a gesture of kindness.
If it says, “Rest,” or “Less,” or “Not yet,” that’s information that could use kindness as well.

January doesn’t need your hustle.
It needs your presence.

And sometimes, being present with ourselves is the hardest part.

If this practice feels difficult—or if offering love to yourself feels out of reach right now—you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes our nervous system needs another safe witness before we can internalize that care.

If you’d like someone to hold space with you, to listen without fixing, and to witness what’s showing up with compassion—you can simply reply to this email or reach out through my free chat. I’m here, and I can hold that with you.

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I invite you to try this practice - your nervous system will thank you for choosing slow.

Mine did.

When I did this practice today, and asked myself the question for step 5 - my chest and solar plexus were filled with buzzing energy that felt scary, fast and hot……No wonder parts of me don’t want me to slow down. Doing so means I feel the buzzing energy that younger parts of me are still scared to feel.

So, today, for step 6 - Love was reparenting that younger part of me who just wanted to numb out the buzzing energy. Hugging her and telling her she didn’t have to feel it alone but that I was here with her and we could feel it together. That younger part of me sobbed in my 48 year old arms, she didn’t know that she didn’t have to do it alone.

And you don’t either. I’d love to hear how this practice goes for you today. What does the thank you or no-thank you from your nervous system look like today?

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Remember, ❤️

You Matter. Your Healing Matters. You Are Worth It!

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P.S. Happy New Year Friend!