The Inner Winter: A Journal Paperback – February 6, 2026

This is a guided journal that seeks to connect the reader / writer to their career in a meaningful way. This journal is written for the career coaching clients of Jasmine Sommer as they enter the "Winter Season Program" in partnership with her. See more info at www.jasminesommer.com.How do you know you need this?You know you need to Winter when:You have been on auto-pilot for so long and don’t know what you actually want.You don’t know where to aim your efforts.You used to want something but... do you still?You don’t know what you want to be when you grow up even though you’re a grown up (darn).Dear Reader,There are many things on this Earth that move through stages of change and transition. Trees shed their leaves and strengthen their roots in Autumn, rest quietly through Winter, and bring forth new buds in Spring. By Summer they stand in their full glory- so long as they’ve nourished and sustained themselves. Sounds a little like us, doesn’t it? However similar to a tree you might feel, there’s truth in that: life follows a natural rhythm, just as the Earth does.For years I’ve felt compelled to lean into each season instead of resisting it- something essential to surviving a Minnesota Winter. Over time, I began to notice patterns: thinking came easiest in Winter, pruning and releasing what no longer served me felt natural in Autumn, and Spring brought its own sense of anticipation and renewal.When working with my career coaching clients, I started seeing a similar cycle at play. Not one that always aligns with the weather outside, but an inner rhythm- one we can sense if we pay attention. This framework has been percolating in one of my own longest Inner Winters, an inner season that has stretched on for more than a year. Why start with Winter?Winter is where the magic happens.Though it’s often seen as the “end” of the year, Winter is actually the beginning for anything that demands true change. What seeds could we plant in the Spring if we haven’t yet rested, reflected, and chosen what to grow? We must Winter first to make the changes and transitions we seek intentional, strategic, and most importantly- feel like us.This journal is an invitation to bring those insights forward: your conscious thoughts, your deeper needs, your wants and preferences. If you give yourself space to pause and tune in, I promise- you will hear something. Pay attention to what you feel in your body as you move through these questions. Our bodies often whisper the truth even though our minds might have convinced us otherwise. Feel into what feels safe and good- and most of all- what feels like YOU.With Warmth & Gratitude,Jasmine Sommer Read more