January is typically a time for change. We tend to set goals for ourselves during this time of the year, whether it’s to lose weight, volunteer more, quit smoking, or write that novel that you’ve had on the back burner for decades. It’s human nature after the indulgence of the holidays and the “fresh start” of the New Year that we want to make resolutions.
In Chinese medicine, resolutions for change also make sense, but for a different reason—one related to the concept of Yin and Yang, which is a way of describing the world around us. The Chinese character for Yang represents the sunny side of a hill, which suggests an energy that’s bright, warm, active, and transformative. In contrast Yin is described by the presence of clouds on that hill, suggesting that which is cooler, darker, inward looking, and nourishing.
The winter solstice on December 21 is considered to be the most Yin day of the year. It heralds the beginning of winter, which is the coolest and 
darkest time of the year. The winter solstice also brings a shift, or a new beginning, as the days begin to lengthen in their march toward summer. In that respect, the winter solstice is considered the birth of spring and a seasonal shift back toward the most Yang day of the year, the summer solstice.
Wintertime is also considered to be the most inward-looking and nourishing time of the year. Like the black bear that goes into hibernation during winter, we tend to slow down, try to stay warm, eat hearty food, and put on a few pounds—all physically nourishing Yin activities. Directionally, the cool and darkness of Yin moves downward and inward. Physically we tend to slow down and move inward, or indoors, during the winter months, mostly out of necessity to stay warm, but also because we have less light.
We also tend to move inward emotionally during this time of year which brings us to the topic of New Year’s resolutions. Yes, we make resolutions because it’s the New Year. But it’s also natural to turn inward during this season and reflect on our lives, the state of our health, our relationships, our work, and our dreams. By taking stock we’re taking the opportunity to nourish ourselves emotionally and ask the question, “How can I make my life or the life of others better?”
It’s important to honor this opportunity to nurture and revitalize our souls not only by asking the question, but by taking the time to hear the answers. I suggest that you write down your answers, which are really your goals and dreams, so you can look at them later. When you write goals down, you’re more likely to achieve them, and if you look back at what you’ve written six months or a year later, you’ll be surprised at how many of them you’ve achieved.
If you’re really good at making New Year’s resolutions, only to have shrugged them off by February, here are a couple of other tools that might help:
- Set realistic goals. I know, you’ve heard this before, but when New Year’s goals fall by the wayside, it’s because they weren’t sustainable. So while the big goal may feel like a great idea at the time, maybe the question is what goals or changes can you maintain for the rest of your life?
- Outline what you want to achieve in baby steps. Nobody says you have to do it all today. The time you spend mapping out how you’ll make a change is often a crucial step to its success.
- Make a commitment just for today. By taking it one day at a time, it narrows your focus and allows the tomorrows to take care of themselves.
- Tell someone you trust about your plan. In addition to writing it down, actually telling another person creates an informal commitment.
- Be gentle on yourself. Hey, life happens. Don’t beat yourself up if your plan falls by the wayside. Make adjustments or a new plan, and take a small bow for your efforts.
Here in Minnesota, January is the height of the winter; often with nights below zero and plenty of snow. I personally look forward to the coming spring, but I also know that when the calendar flips to another year, it’s an opportunity. Whether or not you make plans for change, the New Year is meant to be a time to look inward and reflect.
