Permission to Start Slow: Grace, Goals, and Winter Wisdom

If this year has already thrown curveballs—and you haven’t “hit the ground running”—I want you to hear this clearly:

You are not behind. You are not failing. The little voice in your head can pipe down.

You’re a human building something in real life…not in a perfectly curated productivity reel.

Some of you haven’t set goals yet because you’ve been surviving: sick kids, family stuff, financial stress, mental exhaustion, unexpected detours. Others of you have tried to set goals, but it feels forced—like pushing a boulder uphill in mud.

So today, consider this your permission slip:

Extend grace to yourself.

Grace isn’t laziness—it’s wisdom

God doesn’t shame you into becoming who He’s called you to be. He leads you into it.

It has taken me YEARS to learn this lesson well enough to now be somewhat of a sound voice on the matter. I have always struggled with perfectionism and needing an absurd amount of productivity. When I’m tempted to spiral into “I should’ve done more by now,” these scriptures pull me back to center:

• “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
• “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• “Come to Me… and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

If you need a winter mantra, let it be this:

No condemnation. New mercy. Next right step.

Why goals might feel forced right now (and it’s not just “mindset”)

Here’s something that helped me reframe: winter is not naturally a “sprint” season. In many ways, it’s a rest-restore-and-realignment season.

Research supports what your body already knows:

• Our sleep and circadian rhythms shift across seasons, with measurable differences in timing and duration in winter. (Source)
• Physical activity tends to drop in winter, while sedentary behavior often rises (across many countries and populations). (Source)
• Light exposure is tied to circadian rhythms and mental well-being, and seasonal/light-related patterns show up in mental health research. (Source)

So if you feel slower, foggier, or less “gung-ho” than you expected…you’re not crazy. You’re not lazy. You may simply be a human living inside an actual season.

“Forgotten cultures” knew winter was for different work

Modern hustle culture acts like every month should feel like spring—fresh starts, big pushes, maximum output.

But many traditions treated winter as a quieter, inward season: maintenance, repair, planning, conserving energy, and passing down wisdom.

For example:

• Winter as the “off-season” for planning and repairs: Penn State Extension literally encourages using the winter off-season to catch up on maintenance and planning. (Source)
• Winter as a season for repair and storytelling: The Bureau of Land Management describes winter months among the Takelma as a time when women “weave and repair baskets,” men “repaired hunting tools,” and elders told ancestral stories to younger generations. (Source)
• And even the language of agriculture gives us a powerful metaphor: fallow land is intentionally left unseeded for a season so it can recover. (Source)

So if your nervous system is whispering, “Not yet,” it may not be rebellion—it may be realignment.

Instead of forcing a full-year master plan while you’re still defrosting, try this:

Pick ONE focus for the next 30 days:

• Repair: clean up finances, update workflows, tighten your offer, fix what’s leaking.
• Prepare: outline Q1 content, map launches, refresh your website, build your email list.
• Rest: protect your sleep, simplify your schedule, rebuild margin.
• Realign: pray, journal, revisit your “why,” audit what’s not working.

If all you can do this week is write down three priorities and take one small action—that still counts. That’s still leadership.

Because growth isn’t only planting season.
Sometimes it’s root season.

A simple 15-minute “gentle reset” (no pressure, just clarity)

1. Start with grace: write down one sentence—“I release the pressure to prove myself.”
2. Choose your winter focus: Repair, Prepare, Rest, or Realign.
3. Pick 3 priorities: only three. If it’s not on the list, it’s not for this week.
4. Decide the next right step: one action you can complete in under 30 minutes.
5. Pray it through: ask for wisdom, peace, and steady obedience—not frantic striving.

I’m cheering for you—and I’m praying you feel peace instead of pressure.

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