I haven’t experienced the chill of a North American winter in four years. Yesterday, the temperature dropped to 0°F (-18°C, for readers more comfortable with the metric system). Temperatures so low jolt my body, especially because I had become accustomed to definitions of “cold” that had 40° (4°C) as the floor, and it has been challenging to get acclimated to them.

Each time I depart from the house, climb out of my car, or exit some institution, my muscles tense up and I brace myself for temperatures that might make the most competitive icebox jealous. Yet, in preparing myself for the cold, I bring about my own suffering.

To measure the difference between perception and reality, I’ve begun to calm myself down, release any tension, and embrace the weather as it is. I focus on consciously relaxing my shoulders and telling myself, “This is only a transitional moment.”

It remains cold–that much is certain. In fact, it is dangerous to undergo this temperature without a good coat, a hat, gloves, and–for those out for longer periods–a nice face mask. Even so, it is also refreshing. When I step outdoors understanding that the pain will be temporary, only a step on my way to a destination, it becomes something exhilarating–almost refreshing.

In addition, it teaches me psychic resilience: this is only a temporary struggle on my larger path. As I reframe the thought, the challenge of a frigid winter itself becomes an opportunity for personal growth.

This should not be read as advice urging you to stay outside for too long: I want to reiterate, polar temperatures kill. Under no circumstances should you go outside without proper supplies, nor stay too long if it’s causing you physical pain. Our bodies tell us things, and subzero temperatures hurt as badly as being burned by a flame or bit by a snake (it is called “frostbite” for a reason). Please take these cues seriously.

Even so, the winter must be treated as a dual force, demanding both caution and contemplation. Northern winters have two faces. We imagine the blizzard, the snow, the ice. This image of winter is beautiful, but it is also treacherous. Another face of winter is the cozy home, lovingly decorated and centered around a warm fireplace. Both of these settings are important for us to fully experience “winter,” as a concept.

On one hand, winter gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves, to survive under hostile conditions, and to endure. On the other hand, it gives us space to retreat, knowing that we can’t make really anything grow until the vernal equinox in March. The coziness of hot chocolate and gingerbread gives us an opportunity to reflect, to plan, and to fortify ourselves before the coming spring, when we bloom alongside fruits and flowers. It is a great opportunity to think about goals, priorities, and larger aspirations. The season also offers a chance to think closely about the extent to which you are living in alignment with your values.

If you are anything like me, you probably don’t take seasons too seriously: with central heating, cars, and plenty of warm clothes, we are insulated from the risks of a cold winter. Increasingly, our instinct is to resist the urge to slow down in winter time: the holiday season offers a particularly significant challenge, where we tend to speed up; unfortunately, January and February also offer little reprieve.

But, to live in tune with the seasons, we must force ourselves to step out and face the challenge. This brief, voluntary confrontation with the cold should remind us of the harsh reality many face: Countless people have perished from freezing winters, and the steadily growing homeless population is especially at risk.

Even if just for a moment, stepping out and understanding the meaning of winter allows us to take the need for retreat more seriously. Step outside today. Even just for sixty seconds. Let winter remind you what it means to need shelter, to value warmth, to respect forces larger than yourself. Then come back inside and ask: What am I retreating from? What am I preparing for? Winter is asking you these questions whether you answer them or not.