The Four Seasons of Thought
Our minds are dynamic, responding to external triggers and internal narratives.
Image from and by Freepik
I am a born and raised Chicagoland girl, so I’m intimately familiar with the delicate art of adjusting the thermostat from heat to cooling within a single day. Chicago is one of the few places where you can wake up to a bitter winter wind, revel in a gentle spring breeze by noon, sweat through a scorching summer sun in the afternoon, and wrap yourself in the crisp embrace of fall by evening. It’s an unpredictable dance—layering up, stripping down, caught between seasons, sometimes in awe and other times just exhausted.
But what happens when we experience that same unpredictability in our thoughts about ourselves?
Until recently, I never considered how similar this experience is to the mental shifts I go through in a week—or sometimes even in a single day. One moment, I’m sharp and confident; the next, I’m doubting every decision I’ve made. Are we thriving, or barely holding on? Are we valued, or replaceable?
It’s not just me—I know many of us ride these thought cycles, shifting between certainty and doubt, competence and insecurity. The pressure of deadlines, leadership feedback, or even small social cues can cause our minds to interpret the same situation in wildly different ways. One moment, we’re energized and unstoppable; the next, we’re overanalyzing whether a thumbs-up emoji was too dismissive.
The Four Seasons of Thought
Our thoughts, like the seasons, follow a cycle:
🌨 Winter – “I am the worst.”
A moment of harsh self-criticism. Small mistakes feel like proof of incompetence. We see setbacks as confirmation of our worst fears.
🌱 Spring – “Wow, I am learning so much!”
A period of growth and curiosity. We interpret challenges as opportunities, and feedback as fuel. Possibilities start to bloom again.
☀️ Summer – “I rock this role.”
Confidence peaks. We’re in flow, executing with ease, and interpreting events with a sense of capability and control.
🍂 Fall – “I feel like I’m letting my team down.”
A time of reflection that can lean into overthinking. We start to analyze whether we’ve done enough or if others perceive us differently than we intended.
These shifting mental seasons exist not only outside our windows but within us—affecting how we experience our work, our confidence, and our abilities.
In the span of hours, I experienced movement from “I am failing” to “I am thriving”—all because of how my mind framed the situation.
How Do We Move Through These Thought Seasons with More Trust?
Together, these four seasons create a pattern—one that fosters change, deepens understanding, and ultimately shapes our perspective. We trust that winter will end, that spring will come, that summer won’t last forever.
So how can we build that same trust in our thinking patterns?
Instead of seeing our winter thoughts as “the truth,” what if we recognized them as temporary interpretations?
Instead of chasing summer confidence, what if we appreciated the value of fall reflection?
Our minds are dynamic, responding to external triggers and internal narratives. That moment when a colleague pauses before responding—was that hesitation because they disagreed, or were they just choosing their words carefully? Our mind fills in the gaps, and depending on our mental season, we either see reassurance or rejection.
Practical Ways to Shift Thought Patterns
Beyond breathwork and mindfulness, we can actively train our minds to move through these mental seasons with more balance:
✅ Reframe Winter Thoughts – When self-doubt creeps in, ask: What if this is just a moment, not a verdict?
✅ Anchor to Facts in Fall Reflection – Instead of assuming you’ve disappointed your team, look for evidence. Is there real feedback, or just overthinking?
✅ Sustain Spring Growth Mindset – Recognize that learning is always happening. Even failures hold insights.
✅ Channel Summer Energy Wisely – Confidence is a tool, but avoid over-identifying with highs. Stay open to feedback even in success.
You Are Not Just One Season
Experiencing all four seasons of thought in a single day is not a sign of instability—it’s a sign of being human. The key is not to avoid the shifts but to recognize them for what they are: fluctuations, not facts.
So, I will take a deep breath and remind myself: I am not just my thoughts in winter or in summer. I am the thinker, moving through every season. And that is enough.
How do you remind yourself that your thoughts aren’t always the full picture?
Released February 2025