Every year, during the week of the winter solstice, something subtle shifts in the early morning hours. I notice it the moment I wake up. The darkness feels different somehow. It’s still deep and quiet, but not heavy the way it is earlier in December. There is a sense of turning. As if the earth herself is pausing, listening, preparing.
It is the longest night of the year, and yet I always feel a hint of something new. Because from this point forward, the days begin to stretch again. Light returns a few minutes at a time. It’s not dramatic, and it certainly isn’t loud. But it’s certain. It’s steady, quietly dependable, unlike many other things in life that are not as certain.
Media Darling Moment: Visibility grows the same way the light returns after the solstice… gradually, steadily, and without force. True Media Darlings do not chase attention. They shape their messages with intention and let their clarity rise above the noise.
It has become a small ritual for me to acknowledge this moment in time. The solstice is a reminder that every season has its own unique purpose. The darkness is not a mistake. It is preparation. It also gives us time to listen, reflect, and release what has become too heavy, and it gives us space to decide what we want to carry into the new year.
This is also a powerful moment for authors, experts, speakers, and thought leaders.
We spend so much of the year producing, promoting, sharing, showing up, and doing what needs to be done. December, especially the week of the solstice, invites something different. It invites us to take a deep, clearing breath. It’s a quiet reset before the new year begins.
So today, let’s talk about the solstice as a guide for your visibility, your message, and your work.
What the Solstice teaches every author and expert
Just like the light shifts slowly and naturally, your visibility does not need to be forced. It grows through simple, consistent, intentional steps. But before the growth comes the clearing.
The winter solstice is the perfect time to let go of whatever has been weighing you down. Here are some possibilities. I invite you to think about and consider each one of these:
- the pressure to be everywhere (If I am not constantly posting, I’ll disappear!)
- the stress of comparing yourself to others (Everyone else seems further ahead than I am!)
- the idea that visibility means hustle (If I stop for a moment, everything will fall apart!)
- the tendency to overthink your next steps (There must be a perfect way to do this, and I must find it!)
- the belief that you need to prove something (I need to show people I belong here!)
Those pieces are heavy. They belong to the shortest days of the year, not the ones ahead.
What you take forward matters more than what you leave behind
With the solstice comes a gentle question. “What do I want to carry into the lighter days?”
This is where your clarity begins. Maybe it is one message you know is at the heart of your work (We focused on this in December. Maybe you continue to take it forward.). Maybe it is the desire to show up with more consistency, but in a way that supports you instead of draining you. Maybe it is the decision to deepen your connections with readers and media, slowly and steadily.
Remember what we talked about these past two weeks:
Having a calm December plan, focusing on one clear message, and doing thoughtful, simple outreach. All of this prepares you for the moment when the light returns.
A Solstice Reflection for authors and experts
If you want to deepen this moment, try a very simple reflection. You can write in a journal or simply say these words to yourself:
- I am letting go of…
- I am ready to welcome…
- My message for the new year is…
You do not need anything more than that. The solstice is not complicated. It simply invites you to be spacious. To clear space so something true can grow.
Bottom line
The winter solstice is both an ending and a beginning. The darkness peaks, and then the light begins its slow, gentle return. It is a perfect metaphor for your own visibility.
Unlike the frenzy that can be all around us, you do not need to rush into the new year. You do not need to push. You just need to carry what matters and release what does not. That’s it.
From here on, the days grow brighter. Your message can too.
Warmly,
Joanne
P.S. Here is a perfect song for the solstice: Light of a Clear Blue Morning by Dolly Parton.
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