Welcome to the Season of Self
A time of reflection, integration and deeper support
Rewriting Your Inner Narrative: A Path to Liberation
Winter is the season of stillness, a time when the earth takes a deep breath and settles into rest. This natural stillness mirrors our own need to pause and reconnect with ourselves. By aligning with this rhythm, we allow space for personal growth, deep healing, and clarity to emerge—qualities that are often overlooked in the busyness of life. Observing nature’s cycles reminds us that rest is not idleness but a vital foundation for renewal and transformation. Seeds lie dormant beneath the soil, trees shed their leaves to conserve energy, and the cold slows everything to a meditative pace. This is the rhythm of life, and we are not separate from it.
Shifting into these natural cycles is a deeply decolonial act. Supremacy culture has severed us from the earth and from ourselves, imposing relentless productivity and control over natural rhythms. By choosing to rest, reflect, and honor the cycles of the earth, we not only liberate ourselves from these systems but also contribute to the liberation of the earth and all living beings. This is a reclamation of our ancestral ways of being—ways that honor interconnection, reciprocity, and respect for the natural world.
I want to encourage you to resist the pull of hustle culture and instead, embrace the rest that this season offers. Reflect on the year that has passed, tend to your inner world by exploring your emotions, acknowledging unspoken fears, and revisiting your personal narratives, and ask yourself the questions that lead to deeper truths.
Shadow work is the labor of winter—it’s the quiet, internal tending that prepares us for the renewal of spring. This can look like journaling to explore unresolved emotions, meditating on past experiences to identify patterns that no longer serve you, or engaging in practices like breathwork or somatic movement to release stored tension. It’s about sitting with discomfort, asking hard questions, and allowing yourself the grace to process without judgment.
The stories we tell ourselves shape every aspect of our lives. They define how we view the world, how we navigate relationships, and most importantly, how we see ourselves. But what if some of these stories are no longer serving us? What if they are remnants of societal conditioning, inherited trauma, or outdated beliefs that keep us stuck?
Winter, with its quiet stillness, offers the perfect opportunity to examine these narratives. In this season of reflection, we are invited to pause and listen to the stories that play out in our minds. Are they rooted in truth, or are they constructions we’ve accepted without question? More importantly, are they aligned with the person we are becoming?
Identifying the Stories
The first step in rewriting your inner narrative is recognizing the stories you are currently telling yourself. This requires slowing down and tuning in to your thoughts and beliefs. Consider journaling around these prompts:
What are the recurring themes in my self-talk? Are they empowering or limiting?
Where do these narratives come from? Family, culture, past experiences?
How do these stories influence my decisions, relationships, and sense of self-worth?
By bringing awareness to these narratives, you begin to see them for what they are: stories, not absolute truths.
Challenging the Narrative
Once you’ve identified the stories that no longer serve you, it’s time to challenge them. Ask yourself:
Is this story true? What evidence supports or contradicts it?
Whose voice is this? Does it belong to me or someone else?
What would happen if I let go of this narrative? What might I gain?
Challenging these stories can feel uncomfortable, especially if they’ve been part of your identity for a long time. But discomfort is often a sign of growth.
Rewriting the Narrative
Now comes the transformative part: rewriting your inner narrative. This isn’t about denying your experiences or pretending everything is fine. It’s about choosing a perspective that aligns with your truth and empowers you to move forward.
Here’s an exercise to try:
Identify one limiting story you want to rewrite.
Write down the current version of the story.
Imagine the most compassionate, liberated version of yourself. How would they reframe this story?
Write the new narrative in the present tense, as if it is already your reality.
For example:
Old Story: “I always fail when I try something new.”
New Narrative: “I am courageous and resilient. Every experience, whether successful or not, teaches me something valuable.”
Living Your New Story
Rewriting your narrative is not a one-time event. It’s a practice. You may need to remind yourself of your new story daily, especially when old patterns resurface. Consider integrating affirmations, visualization, or somatic practices to embody your new narrative fully.
Winter’s reflective energy makes it the ideal season to engage in this transformative work. As you rewrite your inner narrative, you’re not just preparing for spring’s renewal—you’re planting the seeds of a more liberated and authentic self.
Reflective Prompts
To support your journey, here are some additional questions for introspection:
What would it feel like to live free from this story?
How can I honor the past without letting it define me?
What new possibilities open up when I embrace this rewritten narrative?
This winter, give yourself the gift of a new story—one that reflects your truth, your power, and your infinite potential.
For deeper support in this process, I invite you to join the Season of Self Liberation Circle through Patreon. This intimate community offers live guidance and connection as we work together to rewrite our stories and embrace our truest selves. Membership is $150 per month and includes weekly prompts, healing circles, and curated tools for introspection. Let’s do this transformative work together.
Join the Season of Self Liberation Circle
If you are unable to join the community, no worries I am extending the holiday sale of this substack until Jan 14th so you can benefit from the articles, exercises, and prompts here. As a paid member, you are also given entry to the Make Shi(f)t Happen online healing FB group. There are many paths to healing, and each one is valid. The key is choosing YOU!
In solidarity and liberation,
Desireé B. Stephens
Educator | Counselor | Community Builder
Founder, Make Shi(f)t Happen