(Updated and reposted from my original blog post in December, 2018)
As we approach the end of 2025 and pause to enjoy the various celebrations taking place around the world in December—Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa—my thoughts turn toward reflection and renewal.
Ending one year and beginning another can be a difficult time for many, and I’ve noticed a significant increase in clients, friends, and family feeling discouraged, disheartened, and even hopeless. Without a doubt, these are unsettling times, and the world often feels more challenging each day. Anxiety, depression, pessimism, and a sense of disconnection or worthlessness can surface at any time yet seem especially heightened during this season—amplified by the contrast between festive expectations and inner struggle. Some describe a deep numbness, a bleak outlook, or the familiar refrain: “I’m at my wit’s end” or “What’s the point?”.
In the midst of the holiday rush, I encourage you to carve out moments of stillness. Devote time to acts of loving kindness—especially towards yourself—and seek your truth in all that arises. Consider responding, not reacting. The more chaotic life feels, the more reactive we become. Try not to be triggered by the constant flood of digital noise. You might even leave your smartphone behind—gasp! —and meet a friend for coffee in person. Slowing down creates space for mindful response. By choosing actions that nurture compassion, we can make meaningful, positive shifts.
Smile at the grumpy cashier, was she up all night with a sick child?
Let the erratic driver merge, did they just get an emergency call?
Have patience with the distracted waiter, could they be grieving?
Remember the Random Acts of Kindness movement? It’s time to revive it. Focus on making a difference in one small way each day.
Trees have always held a sacred place in my heart. I feel a deep, wordless connection to the sense that they continually serve humanity, despite how we’ve treated them. Each morning, I ask the Universe, “What do I need to know today?” and I’m consistently guided.
Recently, a gifted holistic healer colleague shared that she, too, was sensing a collective heaviness—a kind of ennui of the soul. And she said, “I keep hearing 'take Bach Flower sweet chestnut’.” Bingo.
Beyond Rescue Remedy, I’ve rarely used Bach Flower Essences, simply from lack of familiarity. But the Universe delivered Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) directly through my colleague. As Dr. Bach described:
"When describing the Bach Flower Essences, Dr. Bach said that Sweet Chestnut 'is the (remedy) for that terrible, that appalling mental despair when it seems the very soul itself is suffering destruction. It is the hopeless despair of those who feel they have reached the limit of their endurance'...
...a person in the negative Sweet Chestnut state feels completely alone, helpless, hopeless and unprotected. The emptiness and despair are acute, yet he harbours no thoughts of suicide...
...this person fears breaking down under the stress, works hard to keep his anguish from other people, may be recognized by phrases like "I don't know what to do" or "I'm at my wit's end". You may recognize him by the fact that no words of hope will enter his conversation because he has none...
...Interestingly, the extreme negative Sweet Chestnut state is often the beginning of a transformation into a new and much better life. This is an emergency state - a 'dark night of the soul’ - a time when old beliefs and patterns break apart and make room for new levels of consciousness, and even a new connection to God..."
(Edited from: https://www.bachflowers.com/
In this state, a person feels utterly alone, helpless, and empty—yet not suicidal. They may say, “I don’t know what to do” or “I’m at my wit’s end,” and no words of hope seem to reach them. But significantly, this crisis often precedes transformation—a “dark night of the soul” where old patterns break, making way for new consciousness and deeper connection.
As of 2025, Sweet Chestnut remains widely available from trusted sources like Bach Original Flower Remedies and specialty wellness retailers, typically as a 20 ml tincture with a brandy base. Standard use: 2–4 drops in water, repeated as needed.
If you're struggling with persistent feelings of despair, anxiety, or hopelessness, please reach out to someone you trust or a healthcare professional. Prioritize nurturing self-care. In 2025, Mental Health America continues to offer free tools and screening resources at mhascreening.org, especially during May’s Mental Health Month.
And as if guided by the Universe, this moment feels perfectly mirrored by a powerful video from Roc Solid Foundation, shared via The Daily Goalcast: “On Days When You Feel Like You Can’t Go On, Please Listen To THIS!”
Roc Solid continues its inspiring mission in 2025—building backyard playsets and delivering Ready Bags to families fighting pediatric cancer. Their “12 Days of Roc Solid” campaign in December brought warmth and hope to families in hospitals and homes alike, proving that compassion in action transforms lives.
Let this season remind you that even in the darkest moments, light persists. And sometimes, it arrives in the form of a chestnut tree, a stranger’s smile, or a video that says, “You’re not alone.”
PLEASE WATCH TO THE END. It is only 2-1/2 mins long and brilliantly done. I believe it provides a suitable and perfect example of how we can masterfully turn around our heartache, despair and hopelessness for any situation that crops up during these turbulent times. Click Here
