December Insights: Slowing Down for the Season: Connection, Trust, and Navigating Emotional Winter

In this heartfelt December episode, we reflect on the past month—its lessons, its emotional weight, and its surprising moments of joy. We dive into what it means to move from knowledge into wisdom, and how simple shifts in daily choices can create deeper connection, more presence, and a more meaningful holiday season.

We talk about navigating seasonal affective disorder, honoring our emotional needs, and letting go of guilt when we’re not “high vibe.” We explore the practice of slowing down, trusting ourselves, finding light in small moments, and allowing joy to unfold naturally. From family traditions to personal breakthroughs, this episode offers a warm, grounding conversation for anyone entering the holiday season feeling stretched, hopeful, tired, or inspired.

We end with a beautiful card pull for Delight, reminding us that joy, spontaneity, and community are all around us—if we make space for them.

Whether you’re preparing for a busy December, seeking connection, or needing permission to rest, this episode will meet you right where you are.

Key Topics We Explore

• How to pause and check in with yourself intentionally
• Moving from “getting things done” to choosing meaningful connection
• What it looks like to take knowledge and turn it into lived wisdom
• Navigating seasonal affective disorder with compassion
• Letting go of shame around low-energy or emotional days
• Creating magic in small, everyday moments
• Finding joy, wonder, and community even in darker seasons
• Trusting your path and pacing your life with intention
• December intentions: expansion, trust, flow, and presence
• A card pull for Delight and how to bring more joy into your month

Resources Mentioned:

• Join The Village: Click here to connect with our community.
• Sign up for the Momentum Challenge: Click here to get started.

Resources & Links

• Follow Christina @christinaslaback
• Email us at hello@christinaslaback.com
• www.christinaslaback.com

Transcript

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 In this month's reflection episode, we pause for our December check-in and talk about the power of slowing down, choosing connection and finding meaning in the little magical moments of life. From navigating seasonal shifts and emotional heaviness to celebrating growth, joy, and family traditions, we explore what it means to move from knowledge into wisdom.

We also dive into trusting ourselves, honoring our needs, and letting the light lead the way. Especially during the holiday season.

 Welcome to Clear and On Purpose, the podcast design to help you cut through the noise and get back to what matters most. If you're feeling stuck, but needs to take intentional action, you are in the right place. I'm Christina Slayback, homeschooling mom of two, and life and business coach. Helping you drop in and align with your values three or space Each week I'll be sharing practical insights and simple actionable steps to help you find clarity, boost your energy, and design a life that balances ambition with.

Let's dive in and get clear on purpose.

 Alright, Christina. Hello again. Happy December. How are you? Doing well. How 

about you? 

Doing well too. It's, I just love that we pause to take this time together. 'cause it makes me, then it's like accountability, right? It makes you stop and pause and go, oh, how do I feel about the month? I think it was less chaotic than October.

It was definitely just as full. Um, you encouraged me to do, to have my feeling be the response. So stuff comes up just to. Honor that and respond, which I think brought me a lot more into the present moment, which I appreciated. Um, and it's kind of led me for the next month to think about like valuing connection.

I think, again, I'm still in this phase of, I've learned a lot, I've shifted a lot mindset, every energy, everything. But then taking all those. Learnings and putting them into practice, going from knowledge to wisdom. So I value connection, but I think when you're making the little decisions day to day, I keep getting reminded of like, oh, well if this is something you value, why?

What are you doing about it? Do that. 

So what, when you talk about valu in connection, what does that mean to you? What does, what does connection mean and what are you looking for? 

That's a really good question. It's a very broad word, isn't it? I think it's quality time spent and the trust that everything is working towards my dreams, but also, um.

That there's magic in the little moments. I think a lot of times I still default to, well, I need to get it done, and if I get it done, the world will spin and everybody will be happy and yada yada. So I'll come up to like a decision point. I'm like, well, I could get this done or I could choose to like.

No, do something else. And that'll be a different experience and, and I just find myself pausing and going, oh wait, there is value in. Stopping the work or doing, having the experience that will then it's like reminding myself that the connection, whether it's to myself and journaling, whether it's to the angels and taking more time to stop and connect and pray, whether it's spending more quality time with my family, whatever that connection point is.

Giving it time and focus and attention, even if it's just for a few minutes and reaping that reward instead of, oh no, I need to focus on the task that I somehow have deemed priority. Yeah, that makes sense. 

Yeah. I think that sometimes it's easier because you see the immediate results too, like tasks.

Oh, that's a good point. You know, I gratification and, and I think that having that reframe of like, okay. I don't have an immediate like this is done, but the feeling and the way that I'm going to enter into the rest of my day, or the clarity and intention, which I'm gonna be going forward, or like. It's great to get all these things checked off and to do all of these things.

And then also like, is that what I want my life to just be? And having that as like this bigger overall thing. I think, yeah. 

I don't think I'm smart enough for that discussion with myself yet, but I hope to get there right now. It's very like in the moment, who are you? 

Yeah I think that, but I think that it's something that like continuing to check in with is such an important step.

Like you're saying like just that pause. Period of, 

you know. Yeah. And I'm excited to see how that, was me now into full charge holiday season around here. How with all those extra commitments and expectations and wishes and excitement, how that filters through my new, okay. It's not just the things we get done, but let's see.

If I spend a moment here and just enjoy that or see what happens, how that maybe balances that desire to set up a great experience, but still enjoy it. 

Yeah. I think too, and I think that you bring up a good point too with this like the holiday rush and the holiday madness of trying to like get all of the things in and all the things done and.

A lot of that is in this overall, I think, thought process of like making these magical moments and these, these opportunities to have that connection. And how in the bustle and, and the like push of it all, sometimes even that will get pushed to the back burner. So I like what you had said earlier too when you were talking about like what connection means to you and like looking at and appreciating those like tiny, magical moments and being able to move back and say, okay, maybe I don't do all the things because I'm actually allowing what's.

Happening now or like really being in this moment. And that in itself, that's what's making it magical. Not that I've, you know, taken my kids to good X, Y, Z or to this party and this thing and all these, all these different events and activities that we might have. 

Yeah. And it's new for me, but I think a side effect is I'm letting myself get more excited.

Like I'm really excited for the holidays. Like I'm just so excited and I don't have it all figured out, but allowing myself. That or that maybe wasn't safe in other parts of my life is so that's why it's like a new feeling for me, but it's really enjoyable and I think probably 'cause the way you just articulated it.

Yeah, I think that's really great. My November has just been, I feel like, and I, I was talking with some of my friends and my husband recently too, and. This time of year has such like this contradiction and energy for me. There is so much that I really enjoy about this time and also like, I feel like, and the people that I've been talking to that are around me to I think are feeling this as well.

We had such a long period this year of. It felt like it was still summertime. It felt like, like the, there was just 70 degree days and all these things, and then all of a sudden it just like switched and it went from 70 degrees and sunny to like in the teens and it is dark and like, so it just felt a little bit, and I, I have to keep reminding myself that we are in, like, we're getting towards the end of November here.

It's supposed to be like this, but I think because we didn't have that gradual transition that then it just felt like this sudden shift shift. And I have struggled. I've struggled for basically my whole life with seasonal affective disorder and just like trying to, um, figure out tools and things that I'm doing and I am.

Did a check-in. I have a, like a weekly check-in that we try to do with a couple of my girlfriends that are, um, long distance. And I just said I am, I'm doing all the things. Like I am so happy that I have all these tools available to me. And I still feel like, uh, some of these days, like I am struggling for my life.

Like just for like existing and being able to. Feel like I am not like sinking into this dark, a hole of oblivion that I used to do basically every year, and being able to have these practices and like doing this gratitude challenge throughout November and doing my meditations and going and getting outside and doing like all of these things.

Are really helping to stabilize it. And I can still feel that like pull every once in a while. Just like, oh, like I just wanna just go to bed and sleep and it's seven o'clock at night or like all of this. For me, November was really emotional. We had a lot of family things that were going on as well, and just like all of these things came that came up and at the same time, like there were also all of these really beautiful moments and beautiful opportunities and me being able to connect with myself and be able to meet the needs that I need and just noticing and being able to.

Choose differently, even if it didn't last all day, like starting my day with that intention of choosing differently and being able to come back to that. I think it's been really helpful. And I think that, again, like looking backwards, I don't necessarily notice the growth until I do take that step back.

So even like just this morning, like looking over the month and being like, it felt a little heavy for me if I'm being honest. Like November just felt a little heavy and. Looking and being like, oh, you know, like actually there were all these things and all of these days were really great. And being able to notice like years ago it, I wouldn't have even been able to notice those or have been like cognizant of it and being able to take the steps to be able to change that.

I'm curious if the tools you've learned have helped you, like the negative self-talk, like maybe not shaming yourself for feeling. Like you're having a 40% or a 60% day. 

You know, that's really, that's, that is an interesting point that you bring up. I think that maybe a little bit. I think that it's helped to allow, and I think that that is one of the things that I've been working on this month is just like noticing.

I think that when we get into this space of like wellness and personal development and all of these things, that it can be very much like the manifestation vibes of like, you have to be high vibe all the time. Mm-hmm. And, and having this like lens towards positivity. And I think that I have. In spaces where if I wasn't feeling high vibe all the time or if I wasn't doing it, then I could get into a shaming mode.

And I think that at this point, I don't know if the self-talk has come all the way around yet, but I do think that the self-compassion and the grace and like knowing that 

it's part of the walk, 

it's part of it. Right. Exactly. And like. I don't have to be at this high level all the time, but being able to be aware and allowing, and then like I'm saying, like when it's available, I can choose something else.

And when it's not available to me at that moment, like giving myself the compassion to just allow it to be what it is, and maybe I do just go get an extra hour of sleep or you know, like whatever it might be that feels like it's. Gonna be filling me up instead of just draining myself because I'm feeling like I should be pushing through and I should be doing better.

Mm-hmm. I think that's really powerful and I'm sure a lot of people listening will resonate. I definitely resonate and I think a lot of the lessons I've learned in November, excuse me, are similar, but just like a different facet of the same diamond. Yeah. Like just presenting a little bit differently. But it makes a lot of sense.

Yeah. Yeah. And I, uh, like you had said, like these opportunities to be able to just take and be able to look at and be able to have that perspective taking and that reflection I think is really important because and especially even just having the conversations. Between us. And I think it also encouraged me, I don't know if you noticed this either, but it does encourage me to like do more check-ins, like with other people.

It's just how they're great, how they're, uh, they're feeling and like get a little bit more honest about that. Um, because I am taking more awareness. But I think having that is, is, like I said, it's just another way for me to. Be realistic about where I am and to not be telling myself. 'cause I think that sometimes, again, like I know that I was like, I can just push through and I can just do the positivity and I can put out the face of positivity and I can put out all this stuff.

And think that that's what was gonna be turning the needle for me. But it really has to go deeper and I have to allow those periods of the ebb and flow to be able to actually. Have that regulation within myself and that alignment within myself instead of just pretending like, oh, I'm just gonna pretend like everything's great and then that's gonna, that's gonna do that attraction to me.

It's gonna bring all these things when that wasn't actually how I'm feeling. 

Yeah. I was just reminded, we've been starting in our family to ask each other three questions at the end of the day, so I'm gonna ask you and make it about the month and not the day. But what was one of your favorite things about November?

One of my favorite things. So one of the things that I started doing when the kids were younger, and again, it's like all of the, all of these tools that I've been putting in my toolbox, we do, um, a lantern walk Oh, wow. With the local, um, homeschool group usually is who we wind up doing it with. That we go outside, uh, we do our weekly meetups.

But I do a lantern walk and it's like the halfway point between Halloween and winter solstice because I find that any way that I can break up the season, the darkness of darkness into, into bite-sized chunks is better. So that's halfway. And then when we get to solstice, like then it's gonna start to get brighter.

So breaking it up. So we always do it. It's like the middle of November. And so we do, um, the lantern walk and I was actually, um, talking to my sister. So we do it and it's, it's a dark, and we go into one of the local parks that has like the forest area and bring glow sticks or lanterns or flashlights or whatever we want, and we just go for a little loop.

Walk around and just like appreciate mm-hmm. That you know, we're bringing in more light into ourselves. And, uh, I was talking to, my sister was texting me beforehand and she's like, okay, like I'm trying to get ready for this. Are you more excited about this or the kids more excited? And I was like, honestly.

Beforehand, every year. None of us are excited about it. Like it's just a, just trying to get everything together, like trying to get us out the door. It's dark outside. We gotta get all of our like winter stuff on and getting over there. But I said that every time afterwards. It just feels so. It just, it feels better.

Like I know that that has changed. Whether, the walk itself isn't, I don't know anything special necessarily, but taking the time and being able to do that and doing it in community with other people, I always feel so much better. And so we did that and then we came back and that night we had the Northern Lights visible.

Wow. From us too. So like afterwards we got all warm and ate and whatever. The universe 

reflected it back to you. 

Yeah. And I like, but the gets to bed and then I went outside. I was like, oh my gosh. And so we all got out and like went back out and were looking at it. But yeah, it was just like exactly what you're saying, like that, like taking that intention, doing the things and then like having this moment of like wonder and awe that was just available to us.

Yeah. Just outside our door. 

Two things come to mind when you say that. One. I've been using the word integration more in my vocabulary in terms of taking that time to like absorb that breakthrough or absorb what you've learned or absorb of what you created and have it be part of you. So I feel like some of that with spreading the light and then taking time to, to absorb it.

And also I started reading a, um, somebody recommended a book I started reading this week and I'll have to. Finally the author to send it to you, but it's called Wintering. Oh, yes, yes. As a verb. I did read that. Have read, read that one. Okay. Uh, and it made me think of you, 'cause you're so wonderful at finding ways to describe seasons in our life, but then also relate it to life itself.

So that's a very, that was a new term for me where, well, I just started the book, but learning what wintering means and, and like you said, valuing. Honoring the winter, but at the same time acknowledging it for what it is. Kind of a spot. 

Yeah. It's so funny you bring that up. I had actually just finished that, um, I think at the beginning of November, so it was kind of perfect.

It helped me to get into that whole mindset of like, okay, this is fine. We can have those seasons. Um, what about you? What was your favorite 

moment? It's hard. We had a lot. You know, experience wise, my son turned nine and he chose he said, can we not have a party this year? Can we just have a family day?

Awesome. Definitely my kind of day and it was just, it was that. It was awesome. I had so much fun, had new experiences, got to get red like he wanted to. A giant donut instead of a cake, which I've seen places before, but apparently where we live now, that's not a thing yet. So I'd call around and talk to people and try to find somebody to make me this thing, which was fun in itself, like, you know, so getting ready for it, enjoying it, the day was so full.

It was absolutely lovely in all aspects, and celebrating someone I love like it. It was a heartful day, so that was probably my favorite day. 

That sounds so great. And like leave it to kids right. To like just bring Oh, definitely our best teachers. All the things that you need. Yeah. 

Hundred million percent.

Yeah. I know that's not a thing, but and then the second question is, what do you wanna do better in the next month? Mm-hmm. In December? 

Yeah. I think that I want to, I think that I want to move into the month from a place of. More expansion of, in terms of myself, like I feel like I did kind of constrict myself in November in terms of just like really like feeling that internal and like moving inward and I want to make a more concentrated effort to open myself up more to other.

Opportunities, other ways of being and bringing in more of like, I was doing really good at all of my internal and like my personal activities that I was doing, but like even getting outside for all of my walks. There was a couple days when I didn't get outside and do my walk and like that is something that is just very much.

Something I know I need to do, but I was just feeling so blah that I, I didn't do it. And so like, even from a standpoint of like not hibernating, I feel like November was a little bit of a hibernation for me. And so being able to expand outside of that and looking for those opportunities to, like you were talking about connection and, really having myself open to that support that's available as well. Mm-hmm. And those, those opportunities, that's a very good point to be able to see more of that magic. 

Yeah. That's lovely and very brave. Yeah. How about you? I think for me it's, again, another facet word, connected, but trust, deepening my faith.

I think the next level for me of not worrying so much about their, like, I'm not getting all the stuff I want done. And on the one hand, I'm very thankful for that. And I'm very excited that there's always more to do. I can always get up and have more to do. On the other hand, it makes me worry that I'm not doing enough to keep up with life and business and everything.

So I think just in my now practicing to value the connection and the time spent, also trusting that what gets done is enough and trusting that. Choosing differently isn't wrong and being you know, brave. I'm also getting it from my people pleasing. So that takes some bravery, especially this time of year.

I think a just standing on that trust and reminding myself of that, that would be, I wanna do better with that. 

Yeah. Well, and I wonder too, as you're saying that, like thinking about. That feeling of not feeling like you're doing enough, I think is very relatable. And I think many people are getting into this and having that moment to step back and say like, if I feel like I'm on this hamster wheel and I'm not getting enough done, at what point am I going to feel like I'm getting enough done?

Or is this just the pace? 

This is like, is happiness a choice? Wanna Yeah. Instead of a destination. It's 

just the pace that I wanna be, and if I continue with this, like Got it. It's not gonna, it's not gonna stop, and I'm just, I'm just gonna keep going like this, and is that what I actually want? So being able to make that intentional choice of like, no, it's okay for me to slow down because honestly, I don't want to feel like I'm constantly behind in my life.

And so, mm-hmm. The stuff that is never going to stop, like you're saying, it's great. Yes, it will always be there. Um, and also I get to choose what pace I wanna keep this at, and sometimes it might be one that I wanna go a little faster for a while, but maybe that I wanna slow down sometimes or like just intentionally choosing that pace rather than letting.

Dictate itself to you. 

Yeah. I appreciate that. Um, and then the last question is what's your, what's one of your dreams? So what's something you want to do in December? 

Or be, or 

have? 

Yeah. Wow. I think that maybe for December I want to. And I think maybe like when you're speaking about that integration piece before, I think that is maybe what I would like to be, like, to have that feeling of that integration that all the pieces are kind of fitting back in and slotting back in.

So that I feel like. I have that full circle of who I want to be and all of the things that are, are feeling like they're all on the same page. I feel like this is a constant thing that I think, I know that I have been in for a while. I know that other people have talked about too, but this like idea of balance or whatever, but I wanna have it be where I feel like I am more seamlessly.

Keeping that watch over all the different areas and that they're all the areas of life are kind of being able to have their own space rather than feeling more scattered or like, I have to intentionally like shift focus from one to the other. 

Mm-hmm. More in flow. 

Yeah. 

That's a good feeling. 

How about you?

Right now, well, December's my birthday month, so I tend to. Become really reflective and like spend lots of time thinking I don't wanna get lost in that. Mm-hmm. I want to focus. On my joy and the podcast is really growing right now and I'm really enjoying it. I've got all these new ideas. So it's not, I just, I opened up listener support, but it's definitely a, I guess a passion or a hobby project.

It's not a way I make money right now, but I really, really love it. So. It hasn't been as much of a focus, and I'm just gonna go with what's going well and it's really going well. I'm going to, I really wanna lean into that in December and just, I. Keep going. You know, put my energy there. Like, you know, where your attention, what is the, that expression where your attention goes, the energy flows and it grows, or something like that.

Yeah. So that's what I'm excited about. I almost finished, well that's probably also on my list my first draft of my next book. So, and that's about podcasting. So maybe it's all related. 

Yeah. Yeah. You're putting your intention there. That's true. I didn't 

think about that. It's so close and I'm so excited to start editing.

I love that and I love the way that you do have, like, you have this ability to be able to continually see and look for whatever that next opportunity is. And I think that you looking at and saying like, yes, I'm going to, I have all these ideas, I have all these things that I can do, and I also wanna like just focus on what.

Is already working and like building on that. Mm-hmm. I think is so helpful. And so it's such a great way for you to be able to be utilizing your energy 

Oh, thanks. 

And, and being able to like focus on that because then I think that you get better results, you are able to increase your momentum and all of these things because you're focusing on what's working and then all the other stuff just kind of starts to slot into place because.

Amen. Hope so. Yeah, 

that sounds great. Well, is there anything you would like to add, or do you have your card deck? Do you wanna do a card pull? I do. I 

have the card. Yeah, let's do that. All right, so this month we have on the wrong page. There we go. Delight. It's a little sparrow. Um, it sparrows in the spring grass.

The sparrow gains its power from its numbers in clusters, sparrows eat and forage and predators are distracted and deterred, even intimidated by their numbers. Security and joy in numbers is a lesson of the sparrow within their community. Sparrows are always busy living life. Fully many cultures align the meaning of the sparrow with joy and in the middle ages.

The sparrow was thought to relieve suffering, help one triumph over hardships and bring joy. Delight is expanding your life. Clap your hands with glee. Spend time with others. Go to a community gathering, host a party. The joy you experience will give birth to immense creativity and your life will blossom.

Share your happiness and elation with others, and it will grow by leaps and bounds. This isn't the time to be serious or buckled down and get to work. This is the time to be spontaneous and madcap. Do not make hard and fast commitments. Don't sign any legal documents or make any pledges right now. Don't make any promises or you might not be able to keep them.

Give yourself permission to have fun. Lots of fun, especially in community with others. 

My goodness, I have goosebumps. Again, it's just uncanny how honored it is, and I think that just encapsulated everything we both talked about from connection to finding the light and the joy to giving up the pressure of structure and commitments to inviting spontaneity.

Delight. Yeah, 

that's so we're right on track. And I think all the people they're listening to, like, you are right on track. Keep going. Yes. 

Amen. You are right on track. You're in the right place. You're on the right path. Absolutely. Wonderful. Well, happy December. I wish you all the light and, uh, see you soon.

All right.

 Thank you for tuning in to clear and on purpose. If you're ready to take intentional steps toward a more fulfilling life and wanna customize the approach, I'd love to work with you. Visit www.christinaslayback.com to schedule a free consultation or explore current offers designed to help you gain clarity.

And reclaim your energy. And don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with a friend if you found it helpful. It helps others find the show and grow our community.